Republicans kick off a 'Trumpapalooza' of a midterm convention Wednesday in Texas
The Republican Party is holding a midterm convention in Texas, branded as 'Trumpapalooza,' to maintain voter enthusiasm despite the president not being on the ballot. Trump is headlining the event to encourage his base to participate in the midterm elections.
Why it matters
This strategy reflects an unconventional approach to midterm elections, aiming to boost turnout by keeping the president's influence central to the party's messaging.
At the unconventional midterm convention kicking off in Dallas Wednesday, President Trump will be the star of the show, serving as headliner both nights of the two-night event. It is being billed as a "Trumpapalooza," a term Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters has been wearing out from overuse.
Political parties typically hold big, televised presidential nominating conventions every four years, but this isn't a presidential election year. And midterm conventions just aren't a thing (at least not since Democrats scrapped them after a short run in 1982).
It would be reasonable to ask why Republicans, trying to hang onto their narrow majorities in the House and the Senate, would want to train so much attention on a president whose approval rating is underwater.
At a recent campaign rally, Trump laid out the theory of the case.
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