Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), along with candidate Eric Flores, are aligning with former President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, seeking to leverage his influence to overcome historical trends that typically disadvantage the party in power.
At the first-ever GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Republican incumbents and candidates shared the stage with Trump, projecting confidence despite his lower approval ratings. Trump urged attendees to "pretend that I'm on the ballot," signaling his central role in the party's strategy.
"We ran together in 2024 on a ticket with President Trump... voters elected all of us to deliver real change and results, and we've actually been able to do that with securing the border and delivering historic tax relief," Mackenzie told Fox News Digital. He expressed confidence that Republicans would defy historical midterm losses, attributing potential success to Democrats being "so far left they are totally out of touch."
Mackenzie and Lawler are among the top targets for Democrats in the upcoming elections. Lawler stated his commitment to engaging with any sitting president, adding, "You have to be able to engage with the president, and, you know, frankly, this is where I think the Democrats have made a very big mistake."
Both Lawler and Mackenzie, along with Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), are considered vulnerable incumbents who spoke at the convention. Lawler highlighted the story of local residents whose daughter was killed by an undocumented immigrant, a theme Republicans are using to underscore border security concerns. Trump has also visited the districts of these incumbents in recent months.
Beyond vulnerable incumbents, candidates from across the country also appeared at the convention. Eric Flores, a candidate in South Texas, asserted his support for Trump, stating, "When people say that folks are running away from President Donald Trump, I'll tell you I'm certainly not doing that. And let me tell you why: because he has made promises to South Texas, and he has kept them, especially when we look at border security."
Flores, running in a district currently held by Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), criticized the Biden administration's handling of the border. "It was a humanitarian crisis. President Trump, on day one, secured our border," Flores said.
The strategy of aligning closely with Trump is not without its risks. Democrats are already seeking to tie Republican candidates to the former president, hoping to replicate the outcomes of previous elections where such associations proved detrimental to the GOP.
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale criticized Mackenzie, Bresnahan, and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) for their attendance and alignment with Trump's agenda, which he characterized as focused on "higher gas prices, cost-raising tariffs, and healthcare cuts."
"After jetting all the way to Texas to champion an agenda of higher gas prices, cost-raising tariffs, and healthcare cuts, Mackenzie, Bresnahan, Perry and the entire PA GOP have proven that they’ll put Trump ahead of our Commonwealth every single time — and Pennsylvanians are ready to send them packing this November," DePasquale said in a statement.
Mackenzie, Lawler, and Bresnahan were among the vulnerable incumbents present. Rep. Scott Perry's campaign was contacted for comment regarding his expected close race and potential appearance at the convention.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks with local law enforcement about the rise of antisemitism in New York City during a campaign endorsement event at Haverstraw Elks Lodge No. 877 in Haverstraw, New York. 
