While Trump and the Republican Party were able to retake control of both the White House and the Senate in 2024, the party only maintained a small majority in the House of Representatives, indicating it may still need to win over a sizable chunk of voters. Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as well as Virginia and New Jersey’s state elections this November, CPAC attendees told the Washington Examiner that the best way for Trump to keep carrying out his vision for the nation is by providing results to voters, specifically on the economy.

INTERNATIONAL CPAC ATTENDEES SEEK TO LEARN FROM TRUMP AND ‘BIG DOGS’ IN US

“And if that all happens, and I hope it will, I think it will, I’m truly hopeful that’s going to occur, but that’s what we have to do,” CPAC attendee Alan Rosenthal told the Washington Examiner. “We have to help, Trump has to execute, the Republican Party has to maintain a consistence and be able to execute Trump’s agenda.”

One advantage that Trump may have is that the 2026 elections will come shortly after the United States’s 250th anniversary since its founding, CPAC attendee Barclay McGain argued. As such, he suggested a “patriotic renaissance” is needed to celebrate the occasion, as this could “hopefully” translate into success for the Republican Party’s chances in the midterm elections.

In 2023, Trump expressed interest in throwing the “most spectacular birthday party” for the U.S. in 2026 to celebrate the landmark anniversary of the country. Since returning to the White House, Trump signed an executive order to “provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary” of the U.S.

Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) talked with the Washington Examiner about how his party needs to “mobilize” and keep up the excitement for Trump’s agenda, and that Congress needs to do its part in improving the quality of life in the U.S. One factor that McGuire was concerned about is the overdose epidemic within the country, calling it “Chinese chemical warfare” and pointing to how fentanyl made in China is being smuggled into the U.S. and “poisoning more people per year than died in the Vietnam War.”

“If we can continue to make good on our promises, I believe the American people, I believe Virginia will come out for Republican Gov. Winsome Sears,” McGuire said in previewing Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election.

McGuire added that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is a U.S. Marine and that “you can never have enough Marines around.”

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk touted the possibility of taxpayers receiving what some have deemed DOGE dividend checks, with households potentially receiving up to $5,000 should they get issued. CPAC attendee Angus Kennelly, in giving his take on the matter, thought these checks could be “great politics” and give taxpayers tangible evidence of what DOGE is doing with the federal government.