What to watch as Republicans gather in Dallas for midterm convention (AUDIO)

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trump is taking an unconventional approach to the midterm elections: bringing Republicans together in Dallas for a large-scale national convention built to rally the party, elevate its candidates and focus attention on what the administration says it has accomplished in its first two years.

The two-day event, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, is not a presidential nominating convention. There are no delegates selecting a candidate, and no primary contest to settle. Instead, Republicans are using the gathering as a high-profile campaign launch for the final stretch before November.

For Trump, the message is straightforward: midterm elections matter, and his supporters need to vote as though he is personally on the ballot.

“Pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump told supporters recently in South Carolina. “Just come and vote.”

That appeal reflects a political reality. The party holding the White House often faces a difficult midterm environment, as voters who backed the president may be less likely to turn out in an election without his name at the top of the ballot. Trump and Republican leaders are betting that a major event in Texas can help reverse that pattern—creating urgency, enthusiasm and a clear national contrast with Democrats.

The Dallas program will feature President Trump on both nights. He is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Wednesday, then return Thursday following remarks from Vice President JD Vance.

The speaker lineup also includes House Speaker Mike Johnson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Attorney General Todd Blanche, Donald Trump Jr. and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to attend, alongside Senate contenders and incumbents from competitive races around the country. Organizers plan a rapid-paced format, with more than 50 speakers or presentations each night. The shorter presentations are designed for a modern campaign environment—easy for audiences to follow, easy to share online and focused on specific messages rather than lengthy political speeches.

The convention will also feature everyday Americans describing how they believe they have benefited from Trump administration policies. That format is intended to move the discussion beyond Washington talking points and toward the practical questions voters are asking: Are families keeping more of what they earn? Are medicines becoming more affordable? Is the border more secure? Is the country pursuing policies that put American workers, businesses and communities first?

Republicans plan to make the case that the answer is yes.

The agenda is expected to emphasize the administration’s immigration crackdown, efforts to lower prescription-drug prices, the sweeping tax-and-spending law Trump signed last year and the president’s tariff policies. Supporters argue those policies reflect a broader commitment to economic growth, American manufacturing, stronger borders and less dependence on foreign competitors.

The convention will also put a spotlight on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate whom Trump supported over incumbent Senator John Cornyn. Paxton’s victory in the primary demonstrated Trump’s continued influence in the party and underscored the grassroots appetite for candidates who embrace the president’s agenda without hesitation.

Trump has called Paxton “a good man,” and Texas will be central to the convention’s message: Republicans believe conservative states remain the foundation of a broader national coalition capable of preserving GOP control in Washington.

Organizers say viewers should also expect entertainment, a rally-style atmosphere and, at the conclusion, a large balloon drop—an unmistakable effort to turn a normally routine midterm campaign season into a moment of momentum.

For Republicans, Dallas is more than a convention. It is a test of whether the party can unite Trump voters, showcase its candidates and persuade Americans that the president’s agenda needs partners in Congress—not obstacles.

President Trump is expected to speak Wednesday night and again Thursday in Dallas, as Republicans seek to build turnout heading into the November midterm elections.

FILE – Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump hits a balloon during the final day of the Republican National Convention, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

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