The Conservative Political Action Conference is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives, making it a microcosm of the arguments taking place inside — and outside — the Republican Party.
This year’s theme could be summed up in one word: socialism.
Speaker after speaker railed against the specter of socialism, highlighting freshman Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, warning that the Green New Deal on climate change and Medicare for All would transform the country’s fabric. At times, they acknowledged that this would be a likely theme of the 2020 presidential campaign.
“We can’t think that the American people understand what socialism is,” said Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. “We have to go out and educate people. We need to talk about Venezuela.”
Another theme: Trump. Just as many speakers praised the president and his policies, conservatives who have raised doubts were mostly off-stage, if they were in attendance at all.
TIME sent photographer Mark Peterson to capture the mood of CPAC in 2019.
![Fox News' Sara Carter and Kellyanne Conway are interviewed by Scott Walter. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-20.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![Cutout of President Donald Trump at CPAC. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-03.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![Attendees shows support for President Donald Trump. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-04.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![An attendee shows support for President Donald Trump. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-05.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![A young attendee shows support for President Donald Trump. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-06.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![Vice President Mike Pence greets the crowd. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-22.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![President Trump supporters at CPAC. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-21.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![Attendees clap during one of the sessions at CPAC. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mp-cpac2019577.jpg?quality=85&w=4800)
![An attendee takes a photo of a painting of President Donald Trump with their phone. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-25.jpg?quality=85&w=3040)
![President Donald Trump hugs the American flag. (Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-trump.jpg?quality=85&w=2036)
- Eyewitness Accounts From the Trump Rally Shooting
- Politicians Condemn Trump Rally Shooting: ‘No Place for Political Violence in Our Democracy’
- From 2022: How the Threat of Political Violence Is Transforming America
- ‘We’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town
- Remembering Shannen Doherty, the Quintessential Gen X Girl
- How Often Do You Really Need to Wash Your Sheets?
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox