Republicans Grapple With Life After Trump at Dallas Midterm Convention

Republicans descended on Dallas this week to turn their midterm prospects around, hoping an unprecedented convention dominated by President Donald Trump would energise voters before the November election. Many left the gathering, billed ahead of time by supporters as a Trump-a-palooza political fest, just as worried about the party's chances in 2026, and wondering what the Republicans will look like once the president leaves office.

Vice-President JD Vance, widely viewed as a top contender to succeed Trump, offered the party a glimpse of its potential future during his keynote address on Thursday night. We have got to take care of business this November, Vance told the crowds. Then we will worry about what comes next. His speech was interrupted at one point by chants of 48, a nod to Trump's successor, who would become the 48th US president by winning in 2028. Vance let the chant linger briefly before waving it away.

Over the two-day event, party activists were split on the wisdom of holding a midterm convention featuring a president with record low approval ratings, and amid public frustration over the economy and the war with Iran. Jeff Ryer, the Virginia Republican Party chairman, told the BBC he thought it would make a difference. If anything, he said, it allows us to test the campaign message in front of a large audience. Others said the president's rambling, nearly two-hour convention speech on Wednesday would not sway voters weighing whether to keep Republicans in power in Congress. Polls suggest Democrats have a good chance to retake control of the House, while the Senate is also in play, though viewed as more of a long shot for the party.

One Republican operative, speaking on condition of anonymity to offer a blunt view of Trump's convention appearance, said he wished the president had given a shorter speech, but acknowledged that is not who he is. The source added that Trump's plea for voters to pretend as if he were on the ballot would fall flat. I do not think saying pretend I am on the ballot will work, the person said. He is not.

The convention offered a stark reminder that the Trump era is heading toward its final chapter. Trump's presence loomed over proceedings at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. Republican House and Senate candidates lavished the president with praise in speeches, and supporters showed up wearing the red Maga hats that have become synonymous with his political movement. The gathering lasted just two days, but still had the look and feel of the traditional four-day conventions staged by both parties in presidential election years. Organisers distributed signs and unleashed a balloon drop at the end as live music blared. Republicans had never held a midterm convention before.

Vikki Consiglio, a party activist from Georgia, said it showcased Trump's ability to shake up political norms and capture the nation's attention. Evidence of that came when Trump pledged in his speech to make a payment of 5,000 dollars to all American adults if Republicans retained control of Congress. He is a visionary, Consiglio said. This whole convention is nothing but a vision.

But even as convention goers cheered Trump on, many seemed eager to discuss the 2028 presidential election. Aiden Buzzetti, president of the pro-Trump group The Bull Moose Project, said he was very concerned about the next 10, 15, 20 years, and absolutely thinking about the future of the party. Buzzetti, who is 26, credited Trump with reshaping Republican politics, but said he was also looking forward to a new generation of conservative leaders. In interviews with the BBC, attendees most often mentioned Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the top contenders to replace Trump. Sandy Money, a Republican from Arizona, said Trump needs to pass the torch and the party needs to look forward. I love Vance, she said. But Rubio is my choice if he runs in 2028.

Trump has openly mused about Rubio and Vance's chances to succeed him, though both men have deflected speculation about their political futures. Rubio was on a diplomatic trip to Ecuador during the convention, so he was not among the small handful of cabinet officials who attended the festivities in Dallas. Vance argued that the Trump administration had delivered a great record of achievement, including improving the economy, strengthening border security and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. He said the contrast was clear with a Democratic Party that he argued had shifted radically to the left and turned into the party of crazy. The vice-president also made a direct appeal to undecided voters, saying he wanted to win over the people who are still making up their minds.

Never one to cede the spotlight, Trump returned to the stage on Thursday night after Vance to round off the convention. For the president, the question of his successor was overshadowed by more immediate concerns. You know what happens if you do not vote, he asked the gathered crowd. You go to hell.