GOP midterm convention: Trump directs crowd in a pledge to himself
Trump closes out the night after Vice President JD Vance's keynote address.
President Donald Trump closed out the Republican midterm convention by making the crowd at American Airlines Center pledge to him to vote on Nov. 3.
"I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much we can't even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends. I'll do it any way, I don't care if I'm registered or not, I'm going to try and cheat like hell like they do," Trump directed the crowd to repeat after him.
Trump followed the keynote address by Vice President JD Vance, whose speech ws rife with culture war rhetoric, lauding constructs like the “nuclear family” and lamenting that Americans were “tired of being called racists” prior to Trump’s return to the White House.
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls GOP convention a distraction
On the first day of the Republican's Midterm Convention, billionaire Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who is widely seen as a potential 2028 contender, held a press conference with Texas Democrats, where he argued this week’s events at the convention are serving as a distraction from the kitchen-table problems Americans are enduring.
"Donald Trump is hoping that a flashy primetime event will make you forget that well, his trade war is killing costs for families at the grocery store, his war in Iran is killing ranchers and farmers and their way of life,” Pritzker said.
As Democrats work to build a contrast to the Republican agenda throughout the Trump administration, Pritzker highlighted the unprecedented mid-century redistricting fight Texas Democrats endured last year, when many left the state to prevent a vote on new congressional maps in the state.
"In this moment, when America needs a new generation of leaders, fighters willing to stand up against tyranny, Texas Democrats have stepped into the breach. They alerted the nation to these dangers, and Texas Democrats set an example for the rest of America," he said.
Pritzker, who is running for reelection, punted when asked about his 2028 ambitions, but said, "anybody that is showing up here and bootlicking Donald Trump, and that's what this is all about, is probably going to be disqualified in 2028." Pritzker has not ruled out a presidential bid in 2028.
-ABC News' Juhi Doshi and Lalee Ibssa
Speaker lineup announced
The speaker lineup for the Republican's midterm convention has been released -- with speeches on Wednesday coming from President Donald Trump, members of Trump's Cabinet and candidates in key midterm races.
Key congressional Republicans such as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso are set to speak on Wednesday afternoon.
Several battleground GOP candidates will also speak on Wednesday, including Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton and Georgia Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins.
Members of Trump's Cabinet will speak: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Trump is set to take the stage at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday for his keynote address -- finishing out the day's program.
-ABC News' Sarah Beth Hensley
Trump and GOP hosting first midterm convention, but notable Republicans plan to skip
With just 55 days until the high-stakes midterm elections, President Donald Trump and Republicans from across the country will descend upon Dallas, Texas, for two nights to support the slate of candidates running this year and to tout the administration's agenda going into November in the first-ever GOP midterm convention.
The Republican National Committee said the event will articulate "a clear and bold plan of the work [it] will continue to do on behalf of the hard-working and patriotic Americans after we achieve victory in November."
Several notable battleground GOP candidates, running in races that will decide which party controls the House and the Senate, are not attending this week's convention, which comes as Trump's popularity is at a low.
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