Independent voters in Texas showed little change in their enthusiasm for the upcoming midterm elections, despite the high-profile Republican midterm convention in Dallas, which was headlined by former President Donald Trump. According to a recent poll by The Hill and Emerson, 68 percent of independent voters in Texas said the event did not influence their excitement to vote. Trump had claimed the convention was a "solidly sold out winner for Republicans," but many voters seemed unaffected by the event. Trump had previously promised Americans $5,000 checks if his party retained control of Congress, a proposal that critics argued was an attempt to bribe voters and raised questions about how the money would be funded. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the Trump administration could cover the cost of the checks without increasing the national debt, which is currently around $40 trillion. However, he did not specify how this would be achieved. The convention did seem to boost the enthusiasm of Republican voters, with 59 percent of Texas Republicans reporting increased excitement to vote. At the same time, 53 percent of Texas Democratic voters also expressed more eagerness to vote, possibly in response to Republican candidates. The event aimed to support candidates like Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat against Democratic opponent James Talarico. However, Trump criticized Paxton’s speaking style during his speeches, even though he later praised Paxton as the "greatest Attorney General in America" and urged voters to support him for the Senate. Despite Trump’s efforts, the race between Paxton and Talarico remains closely contested, with Talarico at 47 percent and Paxton at 46 percent, according to a new poll taken after the convention. Trump’s overall approval ratings remain low, with a net approval rating of negative 18 percent in a recent poll by The Economist and YouGov. His handling of the war in Iran and immigration policies has drawn significant criticism, with 60 percent of Americans disapproving of his Iran policy and 52 percent disapproving of his immigration approach.