The Republican Party is convening for an unusual two-night convention starting Wednesday, with former President Donald Trump scheduled to speak on both evenings. The event, held in Texas, is designed to rally party faithful and address concerns about voter enthusiasm, which polls suggest lag behind Democrats.
Recent polling indicates a notable gap in enthusiasm between the two parties. A University of Massachusetts Amherst poll found 68% of Democrats enthusiastic about the upcoming election compared to 59% of Republicans. The same poll also showed Democrats with an eight-point lead on a generic ballot. Additionally, Gallup research indicates that Democrats hold a 10-point advantage in party identification over Republicans, their largest lead since 2008.
Despite Trump's consistent job approval ratings remaining under 40% for months, many candidates in competitive Senate races are slated to attend the convention. However, notable exceptions include Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, as well as former Senator John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, none of whom are considered strong allies of the former president. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was also not listed among the speakers announced by the Republican National Committee.
The Republican National Committee has allocated a total of 12 hours of programming across Wednesday and Thursday nights, with Trump set to deliver closing remarks on both days. The convention structure, with its heavy focus on Trump, reflects the White House's strategy of centering political power around the former president.