Republicans convene in Dallas for two-day midterm event centered on Trump

Republicans gathered in Dallas on Wednesday for a two-day midterm convention organizers billed as a showcase for President Donald Trump and party priorities, the Associated Press reported. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters called the gathering a “Trump-a-Palooza,” according to Spectrum News.

Organizers released a schedule showing Trump would speak both nights, delivering a keynote address Wednesday and speaking again Thursday to close the event, the schedule showed. The program also lists more than 100 speakers over 12 hours of programming focused on topics such as tax cuts, border security and proposed limits on congressional stock trading, the schedule said.

Attendance appeared uneven. An AP survey of more than four dozen Republican candidates found a majority either planned not to attend, said their plans were undetermined or did not respond, the AP reported. Rep. James Comer told NewsNation he had commitments in his Kentucky district. Rep. Buddy Carter told Fox Business he had a family obligation. Several members and candidates are expected in Dallas, including more than 100 House members, a person familiar with the event said on condition of anonymity.

Some members balked at steep fees. People familiar with arrangements told the AP that some Republican House members were being asked to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging. The Denton County Republican Party posted packages ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 on Facebook, and the Republican Party of Virginia offered packages listed at $1,000 to $1,500 in an email obtained by the AP. An additional 2,000 tickets were distributed by the House GOP’s campaign arm, mostly to donors, people familiar with the distribution said.

Democrats criticized the timing and focus of the event. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it “extraordinary” that Republicans would hold the celebration amid what he described as an economic crisis, the AP reported. Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Democrats would focus on “cost, housing, food, healthcare” and other issues on the ground rather than matching the national event, the AP reported. The New York Times reported separately that Trump’s political organization is backing a new PAC with large reservations for competitive races, a move organizers said underscores the midterm stakes.

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