WATCH: Trump Takes Center Stage as Republicans Launch First National Midterm Convention in Dallas

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President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet officials and Republican candidates gathered Wednesday in Dallas for the party’s first national convention organized specifically around a midterm election.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.

Republicans opened an unprecedented two-day national midterm convention Wednesday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, putting President Donald Trump at the center of an effort to mobilize voters and promote GOP candidates before the Nov. 3 elections.

WATCH:

More than 100 speakers are scheduled across Wednesday and Thursday, including administration officials, congressional leaders and candidates from competitive House and Senate races. Unlike the Republican National Convention held during presidential election years, the Dallas gathering has no nominee to select or other formal party business to conduct. Instead, it combines campaign speeches, policy presentations and fundraising ahead of the midterms, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump is scheduled to address the convention Wednesday night and return for its finale Thursday, while Vice President JD Vance will deliver a primetime speech Thursday. The program makes Trump a central figure in the party’s midterm messaging even though he is not on the ballot.

Republicans plan to focus on taxes, immigration, healthcare, public safety, government spending and the economy while contrasting their policies with those of Democrats. The convention comes as the party seeks to retain its congressional majorities for the final two years of Trump’s term.

Several senior administration officials are appearing at the gathering. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche are scheduled for Wednesday, while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner are among Thursday’s speakers.

Blanche’s participation puts the sitting attorney general in an overtly political convention setting, an appearance that differs from the traditional effort by Justice Department leaders to maintain some separation between federal law enforcement and partisan campaigning.

Republican congressional leaders and elected officials scheduled to appear include House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters.

The program also features Republican House candidates from several closely contested districts, giving the party an opportunity to place individual congressional races alongside its national message.

Democrats are organizing counterprogramming in Dallas rather than holding a comparable national convention. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is among the Democrats appearing in the city as the party challenges Republican arguments on the economy and other issues highlighted at the gathering.

Texas politics are also receiving significant attention.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is scheduled to speak as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton defeated Cornyn in the Republican runoff after receiving Trump’s endorsement and now faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November.

The contest has attracted national attention despite Texas’ long Republican winning streak in U.S. Senate elections. Recent polling has generally shown a close race, with some surveys giving Talarico a modest advantage and another recent poll finding the candidates tied.

Paxton released an advertisement targeting Talarico this week that is scheduled to air during the convention, while Trump and Republican groups have increased their involvement in the contest.

The Dallas event represents an unusual attempt to bring the spectacle and concentrated media attention of a presidential convention into a midterm campaign.

Republicans are using the gathering to promote Trump’s administration, raise money and give candidates a national platform, while Democrats are using the same event to argue against the administration’s record and Republican control of Congress.

Trump is scheduled to close Wednesday’s program before returning Thursday, when Vance and other senior Republican figures will speak ahead of the convention finale.