DALLAS, Texas – Facing a brutal political environment as the GOP fights to hold control of Congress, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance used their speeches on the concluding night of the first ever Republican midterm convention to paint clear contrasts with Democrats and energize supporters to vote.With less than two months until the midterm elections — and early voting kicking off in a couple of weeks — Trump showcased his policy wins since returning to the White House and led the crowd at American Airlines Center in Dallas in an oath to vote as he made his second primetime convention appearance in two nights."You know what happens if you don’t vote? You go to hell," the president warned.Vance, in a strikingly partisan keynote address, charged that the Democratic Party is the "party of hatred." And with the next race for the White House kicking off once the midterms are over, Vance, the likely heir apparent for the term-limited Trump, was showered with chants of "48" – as in the 48th president – as he delivered his address.VANCE SHUTS DOWN HECKLER WAVING MEXICAN FLAGVice President JD Vance points to President Donald Trump at the Republican convention Thursday, Sept.10, 2026, in Dallas.
(Alex Brandon/AP Photo)The speeches by Vance and Trump capped a day that included appearances by some of the other major figures in the GOP, and the party pulled out all the stops to boost morale in the stretch run to the midterms.Here are the top takeaways from night two of the midterm convention.Trump's pledgeFacing an energized Democratic Party heading into the midterms, the main mission of the Republican convention was to motivate the GOP's MAGA base, which has a history of sitting it out when Trump isn't on the ballot, to vote this autumn.Trump reiterated on Thursday evening that his supporters needed to "do me the biggest favor you've ever done...You've got to do this for me.You've got to pretend I'm on the ticket."The president then led the cr...