President Trump has announced that Republicans will hold their first-ever national midterm convention in Dallas this September. The event is aimed at boosting turnout ahead of races that will determine whether the party keeps control of Congress, according to CBS News.
The convention is set for Sept. 9 and 10 at the American Airlines Center. The last time the Republican Party held a convention in Dallas was 1984.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson welcomed the announcement. "The Republican National Committee's decision to bring its first-ever midterm convention to Dallas is a tremendous honor," he said in a statement. "Dallas has become America's top destination for business, families, and major events. I look forward to welcoming my fellow Republicans from across the United States to Dallas this September. As Chairman of the Republican Mayors Association, I'm confident that this unprecedented convention will energize our party, strengthen the conservative movement, and help build momentum for a successful 2026 election."
Both major parties typically hold large conventions only during presidential election years. Trump has discussed the idea of a midterm convention since last year, floating in a social media post that Republicans would use the event "to show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024."
Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican National Convention and a Florida state senator, was direct about the goal. "..This convention will be a Trumpapalooza," Gruters said. "Where we will showcase the America First agenda, which has delivered the largest tax cut in history and made communities safer."
Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers of Congress. The party in power historically loses seats in midterm elections, and party leaders have expressed concern about motivating voters without Trump on the ballot. If Democrats flip either chamber, they would be positioned to block Trump's agenda and open investigations into his administration in the final two years of his term.
Placing the convention in Texas also draws attention to the state's Senate race. Democratic nominee James Talarico faces Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the state attorney general who defeated longtime Sen. John Cornyn in a primary earlier this year with Trump's backing. Republican Senate leaders have expressed concern that Paxton's history, which includes an extramarital affair, an impeachment, and a securities fraud case that did not lead to a conviction, could complicate what might otherwise be a winnable race.
