‘I’m on the ballot’: Trump tries to energize his base by placing himself front and center

President Donald Trump addressed the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on September 9, 2026. Although his name is not officially on the November ballot, Trump is actively working to energize his base. He explicitly urged his supporters to approach the upcoming elections and cast their votes as if he were a candidate on the ballot, placing himself front and center to motivate the party's voters for the midterms.