Republicans are hosting an unconventional two-day midterm convention in Dallas that began Wednesday. Headlined by President Donald Trump, the party says it is designed to celebrate his record and his party’s accomplishments ahead of the midterm elections.
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With slim Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the party risks losing power in the midterm elections. Polls show that Americans are unhappy with the war in Iran and rising prices throttling the economy. The event marks one of the last opportunities for Trump and his administration to sell the country on his endorsements in battleground states and convince Americans that his agenda is right for them.
Here are some commonly asked questions about the GOP midterm convention.
Who Is Speaking?
Trump is giving the keynote address on the first night and will offer closing remarks on the second.
Several GOP lawmakers spoke Wednesday, including Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas, Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida along with Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio and Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also delivered remarks.
A handful of Trump’s closest advisers will speak as well. Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke on Wednesday and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump Jr. will all take the podium Thursday.
In the past, candidates in tight races might have avoided closely aligning themselves with a president carrying such low approval ratings. However, several key candidates will be in attendance, including two GOP Senate candidates in battleground races: Mike Rogers, who is running for Senate in Michigan against Abdul El-Sayed, and Michael Whatley, who will face former Gov. Roy Cooper for Senate in North Carolina.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made a surprise cameo on Wednesday in the format of a short video. He appeared in front of a steel mill in Pennsylvania.
“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today?” Fetterman said in the video.
He introduced himself as a “common-sense Democrat” who said he is “always going to reject the extremes in socialism.”
He introduced Republican Sen. David McCormick of Pennsylvania and pledged he would work with McCormick and Trump to “defend the steel way of life.”
His video appearance received mixed reactions. Commentator Stephen A. Smith appeared on NewsNation after Fetterman’s video played with strong words.
“It is one thing to be against socialism,” Smith said. “It’s another thing entirely to be a Democrat and be a part of a hype video at a Republican convention. That is just pretty much spitting in the face of Democrats who elected you to office.”
Who Is Not Participating?
Fewer than half of Republican candidates in competitive House and Senate races are listed as convention speakers, according to an NPR analysis. The Associated Press reported that a majority of four dozen surveyed House Republicans are skipping the Dallas event.
Trump’s brainchild, the event has been focused on the president – which Republican candidates might see as a problem. The convention, or Trump-a-palooza, as some are calling it, is unusual for several reasons. Political conventions usually occur every four years before a presidential election. But more seriously, the midterm gathering – the first of its kind in roughly 50 years – comes at a time of low approval ratings for the president.
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Nationally, Trump’s approval rating stands at 36%, with 59% of the country disapproving of his job performance as president. Most major presidential approval polls – including AP-NORC, the American Research Group, and the Pew Research Center – record disapproval of Trump’s second term. In addition, Trump is struggling with approval ratings in every major swing state. With Democrats looking to turn the midterms into a referendum on Trump’s presidency, the convention is likely to help their strategy.
Most notable among the Republican House members who are skipping the gathering are Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida and Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia.
Many are citing family obligations or prior commitments. Wittman said he is prioritizing district outreach. He maintains his primary focus remains face-to-face interactions and addressing the direct concerns of his constituents.
Republicans Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and former Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire – all involved in tight races – are also taking a pass.
What Are the Convention Details?
The convention is taking place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Organizers expect 20,000 to 30,000 attendees, with many paying steep ticket prices. The AP reported that Republican House members were asked to pay $25,000 for the ticket and lodging. Tickets are also being distributed to state parties and select donors.
The convention features 12 hours of programming over two nights with themed segments including providing tax cuts to working families, outlining allegations of fraud in government programs and enforcing border security.
“Over two action-packed days, we will take Americans through the defining issues of our party’s agenda and what is at stake in November,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement last month announcing the event.
Will the Convention Help or Hurt GOP Candidates?
The impact of the convention remains uncertain. Critics say this is proving to be a tough year for Republicans, and the midterm convention risks alienating independent and moderate voters.
The battleground elections are crucial for Republicans to hold the majority in Congress.
And with Trump not on the ballot this midterm, Republican leaders are worried it may be difficult to unite their voters. But speakers at the convention are having to decide whether to focus on the party or grapple with an unpopular president.
The convention is expected to feature Trump and his administration painting the opposing party as radically left and unfit to lead. However, several Democratic groups have planned counterdemonstrations organized by Texas Democrats, Next Generation Action Network, the AFL-CIO and other organizations.
Does This Position Vice President JD Vance to be a Presidential Candidate?
Vance is scheduled to speak Thursday night, while his biggest potential rival as heir to Trump world, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is not scheduled to speak at all. The convention is providing the vice president his largest audience since the 2024 presidential campaign. While no Republican candidate, including Vance, has formally announced a 2028 campaign for president, he is viewed as the party’s front-runner – though Trump continues to publicly flirt with the idea of pursuing an unconstitutional third term.
Still, the high-profile moment is heavy with meaning for Vance: Does the Republican alliance extend to him? And can he hold an audience in a crucial national moment?
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