Republicans Bet on Trump at Dallas Midterm Convention

Republicans opened a two-day midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, placing President Donald Trump at the centre of their pitch to voters and attacking Democrats in sharply partisan terms, even as some candidates in competitive races chose to stay away.

Trump was set to deliver a primetime address on both evenings of the gathering, which party officials have framed as a chance to energise supporters ahead of the November 3 elections. The event was so focused on the president that Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters informally called it "Trumpapalooza."

Early speakers devoted much of their time to criticising Democrats rather than promoting the administration's record. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the party's Senate campaign arm, described Democrats as "dangerous, radical and weird," while a series of speakers labelled them socialists and communists. Topics such as transgender women in sports and border security featured prominently, while the Iran war and the cost of living — issues voters have consistently ranked as top concerns — drew comparatively less attention.

The format carried risks. Trump's popularity has sagged as the war and his tariff policies have pushed up energy costs and consumer prices, and the party holding the White House historically loses congressional seats in midterm elections. Some Republicans in tight races skipped the convention altogether, including Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan and Senators Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. At least 16 candidates in competitive House and Senate races were scheduled to speak, among them Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Ohio Senator Jon Husted.

More than two hours into the programme, the upper rows of the 21,000-seat arena remained empty and side sections were only sparsely filled.

Wednesday's programme included a surprise pretaped video from Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who introduced Pennsylvania Republican Senator Dave McCormick as his "great friend" and said he would work with Trump to protect the state's steel industry. Fetterman has denied speculation that he might leave his party.

With no official party business on the agenda, the gathering resembled a Trump campaign rally more than a traditional convention. Trump was scheduled to give the keynote address on Wednesday and closing remarks on Thursday after Vice President JD Vance speaks.

The event faces competition for viewers from the opening week of the NFL season. Still, many Republicans see it as their best opportunity in months to promote candidates and draw contrasts with Democrats on affordability, immigration and healthcare, according to polling that shows Republican voters less enthusiastic about voting than Democrats.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dispatched four Democratic lawmakers to Dallas as counter-programming. "Americans are drowning in the failed Republican economy," he said in a statement, adding that Republicans were "partying with their super-rich donors" instead of acting to lower costs.