Attorney General Ken Paxton announced during a tele-town hall on Monday that the Republican Party will host a pre-midterm convention in Dallas this September, a highly anticipated event that will feature President Donald Trump as a speaker ahead of the upcoming November election.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has been in talks to organize a unique gathering specifically for this midterm election year, with Dallas being considered as the venue. This convention aims to assemble GOP officials and candidates just months before the elections, positioning Texas, where Paxton is in a competitive Senate race against Democrat James Talarico, at the forefront of national political discussions.
“I know that we are having the midterm convention in Dallas in September,” Paxton stated, confirming expectations that Trump would attend and address the audience. The RNC has yet to make an official announcement regarding the convention or its location, and Paxton’s campaign has refrained from providing additional details about the event.
The convention is scheduled to take place after the conclusion of primary elections in all states but before the commencement of early voting. An announcement from Trump is expected via his platform, Truth Social.
Earlier this year, RNC representatives conducted a site visit to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, as confirmed by the arena’s general manager.
In recent years, the GOP has faced challenges in galvanizing Trump’s supporters during elections where he is not on the ballot. Party leaders view the midterm convention as an opportunity to showcase prominent party figures and rally support before the voting begins.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters has dubbed the event “Trump-a-palooza,” linking the candidates to the former president, who energized many low-propensity voters in the 2020 election but has since seen a significant decline in his approval ratings.
The Republicans aim to energize their base and effectively present Trump as a key figure in the upcoming election, with the goal of engaging voters who may not typically participate. Candidates facing challenging races will be given a platform to connect with a national audience as the election heats up.
While a lineup of speakers has yet to be disclosed, hosting the convention in Texas is expected to elevate the visibility of GOP candidates across various races. Republicans are looking to flip five U.S. House seats that have been redrawn to favor the party, and the convention could spotlight their efforts.
At the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, notable figures such as Governor Greg Abbott, Senator Ted Cruz, and several Republican congress members delivered speeches. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who previously identified as a Democrat, also addressed the convention.
Historically, the party of the sitting president has struggled during midterm elections, as evidenced by the loss of numerous House seats for Republicans in the 2018 midterms during Trump’s first term.
Although Democrats considered holding a midterm convention, the Democratic National Committee opted against it due to financial constraints, in contrast to the RNC’s resources.
Talarico, a state representative from Austin, alongside other statewide Democratic candidates, will need strong voter turnout in predominantly blue Dallas County and perform well in suburban areas of the Metroplex to challenge the Republican stronghold in Texas. A midterm GOP convention centered around a president grappling with low approval ratings might also serve as a catalyst for increased Democratic voter engagement.
