GOP Strategists Question Midterm 'Trumpalooza' Convention Impact

Some Republicans are raising concerns that a planned midterm convention endorsed by former President Donald Trump could do little to benefit the party and may even harm its chances of retaining control of Congress in the November elections.

The two-day event, scheduled for September 9-10 in Dallas, Texas, will feature dozens of speakers, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump himself, who will deliver keynote addresses. However, Republican strategists have expressed skepticism about the convention's purpose and potential impact.

One GOP consultant, Reb Wayne, who is based in Texas, told CNN that many party members are questioning the necessity of the event. "I’ve heard people say, why are we doing this? What’s going on? It was a good idea at the time, but as we’ve gotten closer to it, I’m not sure it’s going to serve much benefit," Wayne said.

Polling data suggests that Trump's influence may be more of a liability than an asset for Republican candidates. According to Real Clear Polling, Republicans trail Democrats by about 6.4 points in congressional matchups. Meanwhile, Trump's net approval rating stands at -16.8 points, based on the most recent figures available.

Despite these concerns, Trump has urged his supporters to treat the midterms as if he were on the ballot, a strategy that defies historical trends. Typically, the president's party loses seats in midterm elections following their own electoral victory two years prior. Trump's 2016 win did not include a popular vote majority, and his 2024 victory was one of the narrowest in modern presidential elections. During his first term, Republicans lost 41 House seats in the 2018 midterms, marking the third-worst loss for an incumbent president in that chamber since 1978.

Signs of unease among Republican candidates are already emerging. In Kentucky, Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Ralph Alvarado has removed the former president's name from his campaign website and materials. Similarly, Texas congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz has altered his website headline to omit Trump's name, changing it from "AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. TRUMP CONSERVATIVE" to "AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. PROVEN CONSERVATIVE."

While Republicans are downplaying these changes, the adjustments suggest that many candidates view Trump's association as potentially detrimental to their campaigns. This raises questions about whether the upcoming convention is intended to support Republican candidates or primarily to provide Trump with another platform.

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Chris Walker, a news writer for Truthout based in Madison, Wisconsin, has been covering national and local issues since the early 2000s. His work can be found on various social media platforms under the handle @thatchriswalker. Readers can subscribe to receive daily news updates.