Republicans gathered in Dallas this week hoping to strengthen their prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, but President Donald Trump’s overwhelming presence also prompted a bigger question: who will lead the party after his presidency?
The unprecedented two-day convention was promoted by supporters as a “Trump-a-palooza” political gathering designed to energise Republican voters ahead of the November election.
However, some attendees left the event still uncertain about the party’s prospects in 2026 and increasingly focused on what comes next once Trump leaves office.
Vice-President JD Vance, widely regarded as one of the leading contenders to succeed Trump, offered a glimpse of a possible post-Trump Republican Party during his keynote speech on Thursday.
“We’ve got to take care of business this November,” Vance told the crowd.
“Then we’ll worry about what comes next.”
His remarks were briefly interrupted by chants of “48”, referring to the person who could become the 48th US president after winning the 2028 election. Vance allowed the chant to continue momentarily before gesturing for supporters to stop.
Republicans Divided Over Trump’s Role
The two-day event exposed divisions among Republican activists over whether featuring Trump so prominently was the right strategy for the midterms.
The concerns come as Trump faces low approval ratings and voters express frustration over economic conditions and the war with Iran.
Jeff Ryer, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, said the convention could still prove useful for the party.
“I think it will make a difference. If anything it allows us to test the [campaign] message in front of a large audience,” Ryer told the BBC.
Others were less convinced that Trump’s nearly two-hour speech on Wednesday would persuade undecided voters to keep Republicans in control of Congress.
Opinion polls indicate Democrats have a strong chance of regaining the House of Representatives, while the Senate is also considered competitive, although a Democratic takeover is viewed as less likely.
“Do I wish Trump gave a shorter speech? Sure, but that’s not who he is,” said a Republican operative who spoke anonymously.
The operative also questioned Trump’s appeal for voters to behave as though he were personally on the ballot.
“I don’t think saying ‘pretend I’m on the ballot’ will work. He’s not,” the person said.
Trump’s Influence Still Dominates GOP
The convention also highlighted how much Trump continues to shape the Republican Party, even as his presidency moves closer to its final chapter.
His presence was felt throughout the event at the American Airlines Center, where Republican candidates for the House and Senate repeatedly praised him.
Many supporters also wore the red Maga hats that have become a defining symbol of Trump’s political movement.
Although the convention lasted only two days, it carried many of the features associated with the traditional four-day presidential conventions, including organised signs, live music and a balloon drop.
It was also the first time Republicans had held a midterm convention of this kind.
Vikki Consiglio, a Republican activist from Georgia, said the event demonstrated Trump’s ability to disrupt political traditions and command public attention.
That influence was evident when Trump pledged during his speech to pay $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans maintained control of Congress.
“He’s a visionary. This whole convention is nothing but a vision,” Consiglio said.
Republicans Already Looking Toward 2028
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Trump, conversations about the 2028 presidential race were common among convention attendees.
“I’m very concerned about the next 10, 15, 20 years. I’m absolutely thinking about the future of the party,” said Aiden Buzzetti, president of The Bull Moose Project, a pro-Trump organisation.
Buzzetti, 26, credited Trump with transforming Republican politics but said he was also looking forward to seeing a “new generation of conservative leaders.”
In conversations with the BBC, attendees most frequently identified Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as leading potential successors to Trump.
“Trump needs to pass the torch. We need to look forward,” said Sandy Money, a Republican from Arizona who attended the convention. “I love Vance. But Rubio is my choice” if he runs in 2028, she added.
Trump himself has publicly discussed the possibility of both Vance and Rubio succeeding him, although both men have avoided directly engaging with speculation about their political futures.
Rubio was absent from the Dallas gathering because he was on a diplomatic trip to Ecuador. As a result, he was not among the small number of cabinet officials who attended.
Vance Makes Case for Trump Administration
During his speech, Vance defended the Trump administration’s record, pointing to what he described as improvements in the economy, stronger border security and lower prescription drug costs.
He contrasted those achievements with what he characterised as an increasingly left-wing Democratic Party, which he described as the “party of crazy”.
Vance also made a direct appeal to undecided voters, saying he wanted to win over “the people who are still making up their minds”.
Trump, however, remained the dominant figure throughout the convention.
The president returned to the stage after Vance’s address on Thursday night to close the gathering.
For Trump, discussion about his eventual successor appeared secondary to the immediate battle for Republican control of Congress.
“You know what happens if you don’t vote?” he asked the crowd. “You go to hell.”
