Republicans gathered in Dallas for their first-ever midterm convention, a deliberate effort to place former President Trump at the forefront of their campaign to maintain control of Congress. This strategy aims to energize his dedicated base, even as Trump's approval ratings are at an all-time low of 35%, significantly lower than most presidents at this stage. The party is concerned about a potential lack of turnout among MAGA voters in a non-presidential election year, a historical challenge for Republicans when Trump is not directly on the ballot.
Trump dominated the convention, with speakers mentioning his name 155 times and Trump himself invoking his name 16 times, totaling 171 mentions. He delivered a nearly two-hour speech, promising that if Republicans secure both the House and Senate due to economic success, his administration would issue $5,000 dividend checks to every adult U.S. citizen, with the condition that the money be spent domestically. Trump also announced plans for over 30 rallies in key battleground states and districts over the next eight weeks, emphasizing his direct involvement in the election outcomes.
A Trump-aligned super PAC, MAGA Inc., has significantly invested in midterm races. The PAC had $400 million on hand last month and has already spent nearly $50 million on ad buys in seven Senate races. A substantial portion, $14 million, was allocated to support Republican former Representative Mike Rogers in Michigan against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Another $10 million was spent in support of Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, demonstrating the financial commitment to races where Trump's influence is seen as crucial.
