Donald Trump has announced that Republicans will hold their first-ever national convention ahead of the midterm elections, a strategic move to energize voters as the party fights to retain its narrow congressional majorities in November. The two-day gathering, set for 9 and 10 September in Dallas, marks a departure from the longstanding tradition of holding national conventions only during presidential election years.
Trump confirmed the plans on Tuesday in a Truth Social post, describing Dallas as “One of my favorite places in the World.” He called the event a “Historic Event” that has “never been done before” and promised it would feature “Great Entertainment.” The president first floated the idea last year, arguing it would showcase his administration’s achievements since he returned to the White House in 2024.
Midterm Convention Aims to Boost GOP Turnout
The convention comes as Republicans seek to defy the historical pattern of the president’s party losing seats in midterm elections. Should Democrats win control of either chamber of Congress, they could block much of Trump’s legislative agenda and launch investigations into his administration during the final years of his second term. Trump’s national approval ratings remain remarkably low, dragged down by negative views of his handling of the US economy, and voters favor Democrats in the race for Congress, according to recent polls.
Despite his overall unpopularity, Trump remains an enormously influential force among the Republican base, which the party needs to turn out in strong numbers. However, the midterms could pose problems for vulnerable Republicans in districts where Trump is deeply unpopular and his policies—from the war in Iran to his administration’s immigration crackdown—have deeply divided residents.
RNC Chairman Calls Convention a ‘Trumpapalooza’
“This historic midterm convention will highlight President Trump’s many accomplishments and unwavering commitment to restoring America,” said RNC Chairman Joe Gruters. “This convention will be a Trumpapalooza, where we will showcase the America First agenda, which has delivered the largest tax cut in history and made communities safer. President Trump will unite Republicans around our shared vision, build momentum, and deliver an incredible convention for our party.”
Choosing Texas for the convention puts a direct spotlight on the state’s high-stakes Senate race between Democratic nominee James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton. Democrats have not won a statewide race in Texas in decades, but a New York Times/Siena poll released this week suggests the race is a toss-up. Paxton, the Texas attorney general, secured Trump’s endorsement in the GOP primary, ultimately defeating the long-serving incumbent Senator John Cornyn. His candidacy has been plagued by a history of political and legal controversies that Democrats believe has provided an opening for Talarico, a charismatic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian.
Texas Hosting Convention Highlights Redistricting Efforts
Holding the gathering in Texas also underscores the reverberations of Trump’s push for mid-decade congressional redistricting, which began in Texas as an effort to strengthen Republicans’ prospects in this fall’s elections. Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee moved to amend its rules to allow for a national convention outside of the four-year presidential cycle.
The Democratic National Committee opted against hosting a midterm convention of its own, arguing that the party would rather spend resources on building up local and state infrastructure as it tries to win back power from Republicans in November. While unusual in the modern era, the Democratic party previously held midterm conferences during the 1970s and 1980s.
