The event program is set to begin at 1 p.m., with Trump expected to speak at 2:45 p.m. Although he is not on the ballot, his role in the campaign has become a test of whether his influence will help Republican candidates more than it harms them.

The stakes are especially visible in two statewide races. Republican U.S. Senate challenger Mike Collins has embraced Trump and his MAGA agenda as he tries to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, by contrast, has taken a more measured approach to the president’s influence, while facing Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Trump’s visit gives Republicans a chance to rally voters who are central to the party’s electoral coalition. But Democrats are seeking to make the president a focus of the campaign, arguing that his record and agenda give voters a reason to oppose Republican candidates. Bottoms and Ossoff have appeared together at campaign events, and Democrats planned additional events around Trump’s visit.

Dalton, in northwest Georgia, is a deep-red area and a center of the carpet and rug industry. The region’s economy and its Latino community have added local significance to the debate over immigration enforcement, a prominent part of Trump’s politics. The rally also offers Republicans a chance to energize voters beyond the Atlanta area as competitive races unfold across the state.

Trump’s campaign appearances can draw attention and enthusiasm from supporters, but his presence may also intensify opposition. For Georgia Republicans, the challenge is to turn the rally’s energy into votes without allowing Democrats to make the election a referendum on the president. The outcome will help show which party’s strategy resonates with voters in November.