The Republican National Committee's midterm convention wraps up Thursday night in Dallas, with Vice President Vance and President Trump taking the stage to close out a two-day effort to rally the GOP base ahead of November's elections.
Trump's Wednesday night speech stretched past 90 minutes, during which he framed the midterms as a referendum on his own agenda. "We're running together," he said, urging supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot. "We have to have Congress. We have to have the majorities. If we don't have the majorities, so much can be lost."
The president also unveiled a populist pitch, promising a $5,000 "Trump dividend" to every American adult if Republicans retain control of the House. He insisted the payments must be spent domestically.
Vance was absent from the opening night, but the second day's lineup leans heavily on Trump's inner circle, including his son Donald Trump Jr., former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Ted Cruz, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are also scheduled to speak, with Abbott's reelection bid adding a state-level dimension to the event.
The convention will also pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder who was fatally shot one year ago at a Utah campus event. A memorial is planned Thursday night at Utah Valley University, while the RNC agenda includes a moment of recognition for Kirk's legacy.
Meanwhile, Democrats are staging a counter-rally at Dallas City Hall Plaza, mirroring their protest from the previous day. The march is set for 2 p.m. EDT, underscoring the partisan divide as both parties gear up for the midterm fight.
In a separate political flashpoint, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins faces a state Supreme Court hearing Thursday over a potential contempt citation. The case stems from an ongoing dispute over the state's congressional map, adding a legal wrinkle to the GOP's broader electoral strategy.
As the RNC event wraps, the party's focus shifts to turnout and messaging, with Trump's financial advantage looming over the proceedings. The president's ability to steer resources and attention remains a central factor in Republican hopes for November.
Democrats, for their part, are working to counter the GOP's momentum, with figures like Pennsylvania's John Fetterman reaffirming party unity after a controversial video surfaced. The midterm landscape, shaped by redistricting battles and a polarized electorate, is set for a contentious stretch run.
