Republicans rally support at GOP midterm convention
The first-of-its-kind convention brought together Trump administration officials, congressional leaders, and candidates to draw a clear distinction between Democrats and Republicans and clarify what’s at stake in November.
Republicans gathered in Dallas, Texas, this week for a novel midterm convention aimed at energizing the party’s base and making the case for maintaining GOP control of Congress ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.
President Donald Trump headlined the opening night Sept. 9, urging Republicans to turn out in November and pledging to campaign for candidates around the country, as Zeale News previously reported. He also promised a $5,000 dividend to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress, citing the country’s “tremendous economic success.”
>> Trump speaks at GOP convention <<
Fetterman makes surprise appearance
The opening night also featured a surprise appearance by Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who appeared in a prerecorded video to introduce Republican Sen. Dave McCormick.
“Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I'm a common-sense Democrat,” Fetterman said in a one-minute prerecorded video. “I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes in socialism and that anti-American way of life.”
Fetterman described McCormick as a “great friend” and emphasized that the two senators have worked together to protect Pennsylvania’s steel industry.
“We’ll work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley,” he said, standing in front of Western Pennsylvania’s Mon Valley Works steel mill.
The unusual appearance by a sitting Democratic senator at a Republican convention quickly drew national attention. Fetterman has increasingly broken with other Democrats on several issues but repeatedly rejected speculation that he plans to become a Republican.
In a May op-ed, he said he’d “be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.” Fetterman added that his “red line” would be if the Democratic Party becomes “the anti-Israel party.”
McCormick, who defeated Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in 2024, also emphasized his bipartisan relationship with Fetterman and their willingness to work together despite their political differences.
Paxton makes his pitch to Texas voters in closely watched Senate race
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also used the convention stage to make a direct pitch to voters as he faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Paxton focused part of his speech on affordability, proposing tax deductions related to home purchases and health care expenses. He also touted his record challenging the Biden administration in court and attacked Talarico over his positions on “transgender” issues.
“If we lose Texas, we lose the common sense revolution. If we lose the common sense revolution, we lose America. But together, we can send President Trump reinforcements in the Senate and change Washington,” Paxton said after criticizing Talarico as “the most radical Democrat in Texas history.”
Trump later made Paxton the first candidate he mentioned during his own address and pledged to return to Texas “twice or three times” if necessary to help elect him, Zeale News reported in its coverage of the President’s speech.
Republicans sharpen midterm message
Other speakers repeatedly portrayed Democrats as moving toward socialism and argued that Republican control of Congress is necessary to preserve Trump’s agenda. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, likened the upcoming elections to “a battle for the heart of our nation.”
“The Democrats, extreme candidates, won’t rip that heart out of our chest,” Scott said. “They hate our culture, and they hate what it means to be an American.”
Wednesday’s lineup also included House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Florida gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds.
Republican leaders drum up support
The convention returned Sept. 10 for its second and final night with another slate of speakers, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who is facing Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed in another closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Jr., and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also spoke before Vice President JD Vance and Trump closed off the event.
The Thursday night gathering also fell on the first anniversary of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, whose death was marked by tributes from political and religious leaders across the country. Trump Jr. cited Kirk’s life and legacy as motivation for Republicans ahead of the midterms.
“We will not back down. We will not fold. We will honor Charlie by carrying his torch to save this nation that we all love so dearly,” he said. ”None of us, not a single one of us, can afford to sleep through the midterms.”
>> White House, Vance, faith leaders honor Charlie Kirk one year after his assassination <<
Vance draws battle lines
In his keynote address, Vance emphasized Trump administration victories and pledged more to come. He recounted that the American people were “tired” heading into the 2024 general election.
“We were tired of seeing our factories close. We were tired of our neighbors dying of drug overdoses. We were tired of not being able to afford anything. We were tired of seeing the cartels and the criminals given free rein over our great country,” he said. “And we were tired of being called racists for noticing that our country was becoming dirtier and poorer and less safe and less prosperous.”
But the American people refused to let “the radicals in Washington” take control, Vance said, and voted to send “the toughest SOB in American politics back to the White House and we made Donald J. Trump the 47th president of the United States.”
“The Democrat legacy of the last few years was that they bankrupted our country and left us poor. They left our country weaker, wide open, and our communities less safe,” the Vice President said. “Their record, my friends, stands for itself. And rather than admit error and change course, of course, they are doubling down on the crazy.”
Vance encouraged voters to remember the state of the nation under Biden and the Democrats and to empower the Trump administration to continue delivering on campaign promises, flanked by Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
Democratic candidates, he said, are asking voters “for a one-way ticket to Washington to legislate and regulate and wield power over your lives; instead, in my opinion, they need a one-way ticket to a mental hospital.”
Trump rallies voters
The President returned to the stage following Vance’s speech to make one final address to the crowd, arguing that the fate of the country is at stake.
“Less than two years ago, the American people gave us a mandate to save America, and in 19 months, I’ve delivered on every single promise I made, and I think I delivered on far more,” he said.
Trump touted lowering prescription drug prices, record stock market highs, more jobs going to Americans, prosecuting transgender ideology in schools and race-based hiring and promoting in the federal government, contrasting his administration’s wins against the Democratic Party’s policies.
He warned that if the “communists” win the midterms, they will increase taxes, defund the police, promote transgenderism, “confiscate your wealth,” and grant “voting rights and welfare to 25 million illegal aliens.”
“So please, go out and vote,” he continued. “We will defeat the communists. We will reject — and that’s what they are. They’re not socialists. They’re not Democrats. They’re communists. We will reject these radical left lunatics. We will demolish the extremists, fanatics, lunatics, and criminals who want to destroy our country.”
Elise Winland and S.A. McCarthy contributed to this report.
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