Trump still favorite to top GOP ticket in 2024 at Dallas CPAC

The big picture: Trump said Republicans should campaign on strengthening the border, reducing crime and stopping inflation if they want to win the midterm elections and take back control of Congress.

• Republicans have made recent gains in South Texas— notably the 34th congressional district, where Mayra Flores flipped the Democratic stronghold in a June special election and became the first Mexican-born woman in Congress.

What they're saying: Flores said during Dallas' event that Mexican-Americans in southern Texas no longer feel safe crossing the border to visit their families because criminal organizations have taken over.

• "It has only gotten worse since [President] Biden was elected," Flores said during a panel discussion.

Flashback: Trump also led during a February straw poll at Orlando's CPAC with 59% of the vote.

• His lead increased this time compared to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was picked by 24% of those polled in Dallas.

The intrigue: Many presidential hopefuls, including Sen. Ted Cruz, are waiting to see what Trump does before deciding whether they will run in 2024.

• Cruz was the third most popular among CPAC attendees with just 2% of the votes in the straw poll.

Of note: The conference also featured a fake jail cell with a Jan. 6 rioter inside, pretending to cry.