Good Wednesday evening. In this edition: Republicans begin their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas.
Plus, Missouri map, New Hampshire primaries and oil prices.
GOP Midterm Convention
Republicans' first-ever midterm convention is officially underway in Dallas, with GOP lawmakers and officials hoping the gathering will boost their chances of defying historical trends to hold onto their government trifecta.
"We're going to explain what we've done. We've done things that have never been done in the first term or the second term, frankly, of a president."
While numerous Republicans are attending the convention, several notable candidates in tight races have opted to skip the event, preferring to keep their races localized as the president's approval rating hovers around 38%.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), as well as Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), all running in toss-up races that could decide control of the Senate, are not expected to attend.
President Trump dismissed those skipping the event, saying there wasn't enough room for everybody at the American Airlines Center.
"The reason that some people are not coming is because we don't have room for 500 politicians. We have room for the ones that have a close race," he told reporters. "Every politician that we wanted to be there is there."
The two-day event is set to focus on several themes and issues, including the president's signature tax legislation, border security and immigration, the state of the economy, and efforts to lower drug prices.
President Trump is slated to address the convention both nights, delivering his keynote address on Wednesday and closing remarks on Thursday.
Vice President JD Vance will be the keynote speaker on Thursday.
Speeches are also expected from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Congressional leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) and NRSC Chair Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), are also speaking.
Key battleground candidates will also address attendees, including Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Georgia Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins, North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers.
The gathering in Texas will also serve as a major fundraising opportunity.
President Trump is set to participate in a roundtable for the RNC on Wednesday, with a ticket costing $250,000. For an additional $88,600, attendees can get a picture with the president.
The RNC is also hosting a roundtable with Vice President Vance on Thursday that will cost $75,000 to attend and an additional $35,000 for a photo opportunity.
Democrats opted not to hold a competing convention this year but are holding several counterprogramming events in Texas.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who would be in line to become speaker should Democrats retake the House, is traveling with a delegation of Democratic lawmakers to Dallas to discuss affordability issues.
James Talarico, the Democratic state representative who's locked in a tight U.S. Senate race in Texas with Mr. Paxton, is hosting a "Love Thy Neighbor" grocery drive in Dallas.
C-SPAN's"Road to the Capitol" series will be showing Democratic candidates and events on C-SPAN2.
Add C-SPAN.org to your Preferred Sources in Google to keep trusted, nonpartisan coverage in your search results.
In other news…
Missouri's congressional mapremains in limbo following conflicting court rulings. The state held its primaries last month using a map redrawn last year at President Trump's request, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that the old map must be used in November. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, but a federal judge then ordered the state to use the new map. The state supreme court is now considering whether to hold Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt after he said he would continue using the new map. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) has the most at stake, with the new map drawn to target his seat.
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race on Tuesday, defeating progressive Karishma Manzur in the contest to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). In November, the 46-year-old lawmaker will face former Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), whose father and brother both served as governor of the Granite State. Mr. Sununu easily defeated Scott Brown, who previously represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, in the Republican contest. Both parties see the race as critical to the fight for control of the Senate.
President Trumpsaid he doesn't expect oil prices to come down before the November midterms. "Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," he told reporters before departing for the GOP convention in Dallas. "I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm." Oil and fuel prices have spiked amid the war with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The average price of gas is around $4.22 per gallon, more than a dollar higher than a year ago, while diesel has reached an all-time high of $5.94. President Trump said he believes Iran will look to end the war after the midterms. "I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer," he said.
For your radar…
President Trump is slated to deliver the keynote address of the Republican national midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN shortly after 9pm ET.
Republicans continue their convention on Thursday, with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance both slated to speak. The Washington Examiner's Bob Cusack and Cook Political Report's Jessica Taylor join C-SPAN to preview the second and final day of the convention. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN starting at 3pm ET.
C-SPAN is on YouTube. Subscribe today for live coverage, consequential moments, memorable exchanges and the political events everyone will be talking about.
