Republican Elites Gather in Dallas to Cement Reactionary Agenda as Vulnerable Lawmakers Stay Away
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The Republican Party held a convention in Dallas, headlined by Donald Trump and party leadership, to double down on their regressive agenda. Notably, several lawmakers in tough races distanced themselves from the event, highlighting internal fractures and the influence of big money.
This week, the Republican Party’s leadership and wealthy donors convened in Dallas for a midterm convention aimed at reinforcing their reactionary agenda ahead of November’s elections. The two-day spectacle, starting Wednesday, was dominated by President Donald Trump, who continues to wield outsized influence over the party, opening and closing the event. Vice President JD Vance, known for his hardline stances, delivered a keynote address, while senior officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lent establishment credibility to the proceedings.
The speaker lineup was a parade of incumbents and right-wing challengers from competitive districts, including Representatives Mike Lawler, Derrick Van Orden, Monica De La Cruz, Ryan Mackenzie, and Rob Bresnahan, as well as Senate candidates Jon Husted, Ken Paxton, Mike Collins, Mike Rogers, and Michael Whatley. Governors Greg Abbott and Byron Donalds, both notorious for their regressive policies, also addressed the crowd.
RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre told CNN that the convention’s goal was to mobilize voters, but the real agenda was clear: consolidate power and suppress progress. NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella boasted that House Republicans and candidates in battleground districts were “fired up” to push their message, which has increasingly veered toward extremism.
Tellingly, a number of lawmakers facing difficult reelection bids—such as Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Tom Barrett, Juan Ciscomani, Zach Nunn, and David Valadao—chose not to attend, as did several Senate nominees including Susan Collins and Dan Sullivan. A GOP source revealed that the National Republican Congressional Committee’s demand for lawmakers to buy tickets costing at least $25,000 discouraged participation, underscoring the party’s reliance on big donors and pay-to-play politics.
Party leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Conference Chair Lisa McClain, and NRCC Chair Richard Hudson, along with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and NSRC Chair Tim Scott, were present to reinforce the party line. The RNC chairperson emphasized the need to mobilize voters, acknowledging how rare it is for incumbent parties to win midterms—a tacit admission of the party’s vulnerability.
Trump, ever the showman, promoted the event on social media, reserving speaking slots for candidates in close races and ensuring the convention served as another platform for his brand of divisive politics. The event’s break from traditional party rules, holding a national convention in a non-presidential year, reflects Trump’s obsession with spectacle and his desire to keep the party firmly under his control.