DALLAS â The stakes couldnt be much higher for President and Republicans.
With less than two months until the midterm elections â and early voting just weeks away â Trump and the GOP descend on Texas starting Wednesday for the partys first-ever midterm convention, as Republicans fight to keep control of Congress.
The GOP’s playbook for the convention, which comes as Republicans face energized Democrats and political headwinds as they defend their slim House and Senate majorities, is to energize the party’s base and boost turnout in key races that will determine control of Congress.
“We are putting the president on the ballot,” (RNC) Chair Joe Gruters emphasized in a Fox News Digital interview on the eve of the gathering. “That’s exactly what we’re doing with this midterm convention.”
Democrats and Republicans traditionally hold large nominating conventions during presidential election years. However, Trump a year ago floated the idea of a similar gathering ahead of , to showcase the signature policy achievements he and the Republicans in Congress produced since he returned to the White House.
But Republicans are facing a low-propensity problem: MAGA voters who don’t always go to the polls when Trump’s name isn’t on the ballot.
The GOP’s solution: Hold what’s been touted as a “Trumpapalooza.”
“We have the best showman in politics in President Donald J. Trump,” Gruters said. “He is the best vote getter for these little propensity voters. He’s done it three times. He’s going to deliver once again.”
According to a speakers list, which was shared first with Fox News Digital on the eve of the convention, the president will deliver Wednesday’s keynote address, which is tentatively scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET.
Trump will return on Thursday evening at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas to close out the convention, with remarks after Vice President gives the second night’s keynote speech.
But the GOP is fighting political history, which has traditionally seen the party in power in Washington lose congressional seats during years. Add to that a challenging political climate fueled by persistent inflation Americans see at the grocery store, high gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran, and Trump’s negative approval ratings.
Gruters said, “in order to defy history, you’ve got to do things a little bit differently and that’s why we’re doing this Republican convention.”
“We’re going to use him where we can, where it’s going to be advantageous,” Gruters said of Trump. “We think that this midterm convention and what we’re doing over the next couple of days will be just the start of some very exciting things over the next two months.”
Democrats, obviously, see it differently.
“Democrats are going to win back power,” (DNC) Chair Ken Martin predicted last month at the party’s summer meeting as he looked towards the midterms.
The DNC, which remains in debt and decided against holding a similar convention, views the GOP gathering as an opportunity to criticize Republicans.
“While working families struggle to make ends meet in Donald Trumps economy, Republicans are throwing a multi-million dollar party to celebrate Trumps failing presidency,” Martin argued in a convention eve statement. “Democrats are on the ground talking to voters about how to lower costs, expand affordable health care, and make life more affordable, offering real solutions while Republicans desperately attempt to paper over their billionaire-first agenda.”
Democrats have also spotlighted the sizable number of Republican politicians who are staying away from the Dallas gathering.
Asked about the no-shows, Gruters said, “There’s some people in tight ra
