The Republican National Committee says the convention will showcase the Trump administration’s accomplishments and Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

“Over two action-packed days, we will take Americans through the defining issues of our Party’s agenda and what is at stake in November,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said. “Each hour will have its own theme, its own message, and its own voices, building toward President Donald Trump’s vision for the next chapter of American greatness.”

Here is what to watch as the unprecedented gathering gets underway.

Trump takes center stage

The biggest question surrounding the convention may be how prominently Trump dominates the event.

The president was initially scheduled to deliver the keynote address on the second night, with Vance closing out the first night. But Trump is now scheduled to speak both nights, a change announced after concerns about attendance and viewership mounted.

The convention is designed in large part around Trump’s presidency and his agenda, with programming focused on issues the Republican National Committee believes will resonate with voters heading into November. The party’s official schedule includes presentations on tax cuts, healthcare costs, border security, trade, manufacturing, government spending and fraud, education, public safety, and prescription drug prices.

Trump has also made clear that he views the gathering as an opportunity to focus on competitive races around the country.

“The midterms, people talk about it. It’s very important, but there’s no convention,” Trump said. “Why don’t we have a convention? You could call it a midterm convention.”

Texas becomes a political showcase

The decision to hold the convention in Dallas is not incidental. Texas is home to one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the 2026 cycle, with Texas attorney general and Republican nominee Ken Paxton facing Democratic nominee James Talarico in November.

Trump has already singled out Paxton as a candidate that Republicans need to support.

“One of the ones we want to focus on will be, obviously, Ken Paxton. We got to get him elected,” Trump said. “He’s a good man. You know, I know him very well. He really was a great attorney general.”

The convention, therefore, gives the Republican Party an opportunity to put its national operation and its Texas candidates on the same stage.

What Republicans will talk about

The convention will look substantially different from a traditional presidential-year convention, with no state delegates voting to nominate presidential or vice presidential candidates. Instead, the event is intended to promote the current Republican agenda and introduce candidates running in competitive 2026 races.

The first night will focus heavily on economic and domestic policy, including tax cuts, healthcare affordability, border security, trade, and domestic manufacturing. Workers and other Americans are expected to appear in several of the presentations.

The second night will put greater emphasis on the benefits Republicans say voters have received from Trump’s policies. Programming will feature families discussing provisions including no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, along with segments on prescription drug costs, border security, and healthcare.

The Republican National Committee has also built programming around Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda and proposals, including banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Each night will also include a candidate showcase featuring House, Senate, and gubernatorial candidates.

A tribute to Charlie Kirk and 9/11 remembrance

The Republican National Committee has scheduled a tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered last September, as part of its programming, along with a segment commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with the families of first responders.

The programming comes as the convention attempts to combine campaign messaging, policy presentations and moments intended to appeal to different parts of the Republican coalition.

Democrats prepare a counter-message

Republicans will not have the political stage entirely to themselves. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-NY) and the Democratic National Committee have announced plans to send Democratic lawmakers to Texas as the party seeks to challenge the GOP’s messaging during the convention.

Jeffries is sending four members of his caucus, House Oversight ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), along with Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), to Dallas. Democrats are expected to focus their message on affordability and the economy while presenting their own agenda for the 2026 elections.

Not every Republican is going

For all of the RNC’s emphasis on making the convention a major political event, one of the biggest storylines heading into Dallas is who won’t be there. A Politico survey of more than 70 Republican candidates and members found that 45 said they were not planning to attend or were still deciding whether to participate. Republicans cited previously scheduled fundraisers and district events, personal commitments, and concerns about the cost of attending.

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Some Republicans running in competitive races have also expressed reluctance to associate themselves too closely with Trump as they campaign for voters in their home states and districts.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu (R-NH) are among those who have said they will not attend.