In early November United States celebrates very important legislative elections. Polls indicate that the Republicans are very likely to lose control of the lower House of Congress (which is completely renewed) and even risk losing the Senate (which will change a third of its 100 members), due to the wear and tear of two years of Donald Trump's government, tariffs, constant turmoil, the war in Iran, the cost of living, and especially the price of gasoline. The narrative is against the party that dominates the legislative and executive branches, and to try to reverse it, the president has called for something unprecedented, a convention in Dallas, Texas, between today Wednesday and tomorrow Thursday.
In reality, it is not a conventional convention, like the ones both parties hold in each election year, with delegates and a whole structure to formally nominate presidential candidates. It is something different, a Trumpapalooza, in the words of Joe Gruters, head of the Republican National Committee (RNC), a mix between the president's name and that of Lollapalooza, the famous music festival. Because that's what it is, a visual political festival, with Trump as the headliner and over 100 speakers listed as opening acts.
The strategy could not be simpler and more obvious: focus everything on Trump's figure to generate enthusiasm and energize his powerful voter base before the midterms. It is not about a debate on specific programs or strategies, but about mobilization, fundraising, and attention. Everything revolves around an essential idea in this Administration: the president believes he is a beloved, respected, and invincible figure. "There is a theory that I get the votes", Trump stated in an interview with Fox News last week. "I see it all the time: when Trump is on the ballot, they win. When he is not, people do not vote," he insisted.
Trump also maintains that he has never lost and cannot lose, which is why he has been insisting for six years that the 2020 elections were stolen from him. The derivative of that philosophy is that if the Republicans are doing poorly in the polls or have lost some important state-level elections in the last 24 months, it is not due to the wear associated with their leader, but quite the opposite. Because they are not closely related enough. That much more Trump is needed, not less, despite what many officials are starting to admit anonymously in reports from an increasing number of media outlets.
The president and his team are concerned because they know that the Democratic opposition's absence in recent years will change after November. And it can be much more effective with control of Congress. Trump is not on any ballot, but he seeks to activate his supporters, disheartened by the chaos in the government, the Epstein case, the bellicosity of an Administration that had promised no more wars in the Middle East, the price of food, or even the proliferation of noisy data centers consuming essential resources like water or electricity in rural areas. A YouGov survey published last month shows that 91% of registered Democrats plan to vote, compared to 79% of registered Republicans.
Trump aims to nationalize the process and build loyalty among all those aspiring to a political career. In recent months, congressmen and senators who were considered less loyal or slightly skeptical or critical of his presidency have been swept away in primaries by candidates supported by the White House. Now those who remain will have no choice but to associate their name with the worn-out leader and accept that in many places, the legislative elections will be a kind of referendum on his leadership and agenda, rather than an election on local or state issues. Despite the president's popularity being at its lowest level today, unlike in 2024. "This historic Midterm Convention will highlight President Trump's numerous achievements and his unwavering commitment to restoring America," defended Gruters, the little-known president of the Republican National Committee. "We need the president at the center, in the front row".
The Dallas event coincides with highly contested races, especially the Senate race in Texas, where Ken Paxton, a controversial candidate laden with scandals but chosen and supported by Trump, is up against the Democrat James Talarico, who is ahead in the polls. Additionally, there are at least 40 or 50 districts expected to be highly contested across the country. Nevertheless, less than half of the conservative candidates in these most competitive races in both chambers are on the list of scheduled speakers, as they have been asked for a contribution of at least $25,000 per head for the invitation. "Basically, there are about 35 electoral contests - one very important one is in Texas - to maintain control and achieve good results. There are five senators and 30 congressmen, men and women. And I am going to work very hard to ensure they win," Trump stated these days, announcing that he would campaign in person in all of them.
Another element that gives meaning to the convention is the media coverage. By bringing together the top brass, with him at the helm, the president, who will speak on both nights, ensures coverage in all national media and a good portion of international media. A platform to discuss immigration and border security, tax cuts, foreign investment, "protecting American values," and trying to capture national attention to counter the Democrats' narrative on the cost of living, debt unsustainability, and the failure of the Iran war. This will be particularly challenging as Trump's speeches will compete with the first two nights of the NFL regular season, the American football league. And because four of the five major television networks do not seem to have decided whether they will air extensive programs on the convention or not.
Lastly, the Trumpapalooza is, of course, a matter of money. The event is expected to raise over $50 million in direct and indirect donations (many delegates pay small fortunes to be there and aspire to a moment with Trump) and is expected to gather around 20,000 people, the largest party convention in a decade. A show of strength and a training session for 2028. Attending a roundtable with Trump on September 9 costs $250,000 per person. Donors can also have a photo with the president for the modest price of $88,600. The price for the same with Vice President Vance drops to $75,000 and $35,000, respectively.