Republicans will gather in Milwaukee next week for the Republican National Convention, the party’s event every four years to formally designate their presidential candidate and highlight priorities.
Former President Donald Trump easily won the primaries, so the party will host ceremonial delegate counts and speeches to make him their official nominee in November’s presidential race.
President Joe Biden is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, although a growing number of lawmakers and other Democrats have been pushing to replace him after last month’s poor debate performance against Trump.
The four-day GOP convention will also have some policy focus, including energy-themed speeches and events with industry officials.
It will be hosted mainly in and around Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. Wisconsin is a key swing state on the Great Lakes that Trump won in 2016 election but Biden took in 2020.
It’s the first big party convention in nearly eight years, since Republicans and Democrats had much smaller, mostly virtual events in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here’s what to watch for:
Energy theme
The Republican National Committee is planning themes for the main-stage speeches on each of the four days of the convention, all centered on “Make America Great Again,” Trump’s longtime campaign slogan.
On Monday it’s “Make America Wealthy Once Again,” which the party said will touch on energy.
“During the first Trump administration, America experienced an unprecedented economic boom. President Trump’s America First economic policies slashed cumbersome regulations, cut tax rates, and reworked trade deals to create a fairer playing field for American industry and workers,” the party said.
“Under the Biden-Harris administration, all of this progress has stalled or reversed — real wages for American workers are lower than before Biden took office, meanwhile inflation and high energy prices thanks to the Biden’s Green New Deal-inspired, anti-drilling agenda have made everyday life unaffordable for working-class Americans.”
The GOP has not yet announced who will speak and their topics, but Monday’s speeches are likely to lean heavily on criticizing Biden’s climate change agenda and renewable energy focus, while promising new efforts to significantly boost oil, natural gas and coal production.
U.S. oil and gas output has grown throughout Biden’s time in office, and are now at record highs, despite Trump’s claims that Biden has hobbled the industry.
Inflation and the high cost of living are also likely to be themes throughout the convention, and the GOP will hold up energy prices as a key contributor.
Other daily themes include “Make America Safe Once Again” and “Make America Strong Once Again.”
Industry influence
National party conventions have long been welcoming places for companies and trade groups looking to influence lawmakers, potential future administration officials, policy aides and others.
Representatives from groups including the American Petroleum Institute, National Mining Association, Edison Electric Institute, American Clean Power Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, and American Exploration and Production Council said their groups are sending officials to Milwaukee.
At past conventions, that has included participating in or hosting events, meetings, happy hours, meals and more, in and around the venue.
The industry organizations’ activities are generally nonpartisan, and leaders said they’re planning similar efforts at the Democratic National Convention in August.
“API leadership is attending the conventions in Milwaukee and Chicago to engage with both sides of the aisle and advocate for our policy roadmap to secure American energy leadership and help reduce inflation,” spokesperson Andrea Woods said in a statement.
Erik Milito, president of the National Offshore Industries Association, said, “We expect Milwaukee to provide a forum for energy discussions with the Trump campaign and other stakeholders, including those in Congress and on the campaign trail for Congress.”
EEI, ACP, the American Gas Association and the nuclear energy industry are teaming up for at least some of their efforts in a project they dub “America’s Energy,” which will push common priorities.
EEI spokesperson Sarah Durdaller said the group’s work at the convention will be “to showcase the work of our member companies to deliver the reliable, affordable, and resilient clean energy that powers America’s economy and our way of life.”
The energy industry has a major ally in GOP leadership. Michael Whatley, a former oil lobbyist, was named in March to lead the Republican National Committee.
Conservative, liberal climate groups
Conservative climate change advocates — who dub themselves the “eco-right” — will be looking to make their presence known at the convention.
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, ClearPath, the American Conservation Coalition and the Conservative Climate Foundation will be teaming up for a reception as part of their push to promote climate change policies aimed at Republicans.
Conservative Climate Caucus Founder Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), the caucus’ chair, will speak at the event.
Some of the groups’ leaders will be participating in other events and receptions during the convention.
Heather Reams, who leads both CRES and the Conservative Climate Foundation, which is affiliated with the Conservative Climate Caucus, said that the RNC was “an opportunity to highlight what we know to be true: America is one of the cleanest producers of energy and manufacturing in the world, and Republicans want to harness American resources, innovation and entrepreneurship to increase homegrown energy and reduce our reliance on adversarial nations like China and Russia.”
ClearPath spokesperson Luke Bolar said the convention comes at a good time to promote clean energy.
“We’ve seen a really positive trend of conservatives and elected Republicans taking on clean energy and energy innovation policies more significantly … we’re just seeing a lot more momentum,” Bolar said. “So we thought this is a great year to help bring people together to talk about that specifically.”
ACC is also a sponsor of the convention and will have a booth in the exhibit hall to show the history of conservative environmentalism and the group’s vision for the future, said spokesperson Karly Matthews.
Liberal environmental activists are making plans as well. Climate Power is preparing events elsewhere in Wisconsin with clean energy workers, unions and elected officials to push back against Trump’s energy polices, the group said.
Climate Power will also hold a press event with Democratic former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on Trump’s “Big Oil agenda.”
East Palestine mayor
The convention will also feature the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, where a 2023 train derailment and chemical spill prompted questions over rail safety and the federal response to the accident. The mayor of the town, Trent Conaway, is slated to speak on July 17, according to POLITICO.
The crash, which led to the intentional release and burn of a toxic chemical, was seized upon by Republicans who accused Biden and the federal government of ignoring the plight of working class Americans. Trump visited the town just weeks after the crash; Biden waited a year to do so.
The crash also prompted calls for better rail safety. A bipartisan bill, led by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), quickly emerged. But following industry pressure and Republican wariness, the bill has stalled.
In June, the National Transportation Safety Board faulted the railway, Norfolk Southern, and its contractors, saying that the release and burn of the toxic chemical vinyl chloride was unnecessary.
Conaway, a Republican, had been critical of Biden for not visiting the town sooner.
Vice presidential pick
Trump is set to announce his vice presidential running mate before or during the convention.
Some of the top contenders include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio on Florida, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
Burgum has the most extensive energy record of the bunch, owing to his leadership of an oil- and coal-heavy state. Trump has consistently praised Burgum’s record on the issue.
Still, whomever the former president picks is not likely to differ much from Trump’s pro-fossil fuel and anti-regulatory promises.
Reporter Nico Portundo contributed.
This story also appears in Climatewire and Energywire.
