Vice President Vance is set to address the Republican National Committee's midterm convention Thursday night, followed by President Trump, as the GOP wraps up a two-day gathering aimed at boosting turnout ahead of November's elections.
Trump's Wednesday night speech ran more than 90 minutes, during which he framed the midterms as a referendum on his presidency and urged supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot. "We're running together," Trump said, closing out the first night. "We have to have Congress. We have to have the majorities. If we don't have the majorities, so much can be lost."
In a bid to energize the base, Trump floated a $5,000 "Trump dividend" for every American adult if Republicans retain control of the House, stipulating the funds must be spent domestically. The proposal drew cheers from the crowd but was met with skepticism from fiscal hawks.
Vance was absent from Wednesday's proceedings, but the second day features a heavy lineup of Trump allies: Donald Trump Jr., former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are all scheduled to speak. House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking reelection, are also on the agenda.
The convention will also honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, marking the one-year anniversary of his death. Turning Point USA, the youth organization Kirk founded, is holding a memorial Thursday night at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was fatally shot during a campus speaking event in front of thousands.
Democrats, meanwhile, have organized a protest march against the convention, gathering at Dallas City Hall Plaza for a second consecutive day. The rally is set for 2 p.m. EDT, with organizers vowing to voice opposition to GOP policies.
In Missouri, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) faces a state Supreme Court hearing Thursday on whether to hold him in contempt amid an ongoing dispute over the state's congressional map. The case has drawn national attention as a test of state-level election administration.
The RNC's Dallas gathering comes as Trump's campaign war chest continues to loom over the midterm landscape, with Democrats and some Republicans questioning the influence of his fundraising machine. For more on that dynamic, see Trump's financial muscle.
Earlier this week, Trump took center stage at the convention's opening, as detailed in our coverage of his Dallas appearance. His proposal for $5,000 payouts has also drawn scrutiny, with critics questioning its fiscal impact.
As the midterms approach, the GOP is betting on Trump's enduring appeal, while Democrats are countering with grassroots protests and a message focused on accountability. The next few months will determine whether these strategies resonate with voters.
