Republicans gather in Dallas for an unusual two-day midterm convention, the first in nearly 50 years, where top candidates must decide how closely to align with President Trump. With Trump's approval at 38 percent, battleground candidates like Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, former Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan, and Michael Whatley in North Carolina face political risk whether they attend or stay away. Trump controls hundreds of millions in super PAC funds, creating immense financial leverage over campaigns.

Trump is expected to tout his record despite public dissatisfaction on domestic, foreign, and economic issues. He claims gas prices will drop below $2 a gallon once the Iran conflict ends and defends tariffs that have raised consumer prices. The convention will likely feature attacks on Democrats as extreme rather than sober policy analysis.

Vice President JD Vance speaks Thursday night in his highest-profile appearance since the 2024 campaign. Widely viewed as the 2028 front-runner, Vance must demonstrate loyalty to Trump while signaling his own viability. The event serves as Trump's final major platform before November to convince voters the country is on the right track.