GOP Dallas Rally
Trump and Republicans Plan Dallas Convention to Rally Voters for Crucial Midterm Elections
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President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Republicans will hold a national convention in Dallas on September 9 and 10 — the first time the party has ever staged such an event outside of a presidential election year, according to Reuters. The goal is to boost turnout ahead of November's midterm congressional elections, where Republicans are fighting to keep their slim majorities in Congress.
The convention is expected to be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, according to FOX 4 Dallas. The RNC reported $125.5 million in cash on hand with zero debt, compared to the DNC's $14.9 million in cash and $18.3 million in debt, per NTD News.
Republicans Break 170-Year Tradition With Midterm Convention
National conventions have traditionally been held every four years to pick a presidential nominee. This year's event in Dallas breaks that 170-year pattern, US News reported. Trump has floated the idea since his 2024 re-election, viewing the midterms as a test of his "America First" agenda. The RNC even changed its own rules in January 2026 to allow such a convention, according to Texas Scorecard.
The news leaked early. During a June 16 tele-town hall, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told listeners, "I know that we are having the midterm convention in Dallas in September," according to The Texas Tribune. Trump made the official announcement on June 30. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters has framed the event as a "messaging powerhouse" rather than a formal party business meeting.
Texas Senate Race Puts GOP on Defense in Its Own Backyard
The choice of Dallas is no accident. In May, Ken Paxton — backed by Trump — defeated four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff with 63.8% of the vote, according to The Texas Tribune. Some establishment Republicans worry Paxton's baggage, including a prior securities fraud case and an extramarital affair, could cost the party a seat it has held for 30 years.
Polling shows how tight the race has become. One survey from the UT/Texas Politics Project puts Paxton at 43% and Democratic challenger James Talarico at 42%, within the margin of error. A separate poll from Texas Public Opinion Research shows Talarico actually leading 47% to 44% among voters who backed Cornyn in the primary. Talarico has called the convention a "circus of distractions."
Supreme Court Ruling Gives GOP a Cash Firepower Boost
The convention follows a key legal win for Republicans. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in a recent case that removed limits on how much political parties can spend in direct coordination with individual candidates, according to NTD News. That ruling lets the RNC use its massive cash advantage to pour money directly into races like the Texas Senate contest.
Vice President JD Vance, serving as RNC Finance Chair, has helped raise tens of millions of dollars this cycle, per Washington Examiner. The fundraising gap between the two parties is stark. The RNC's $125.5 million war chest dwarfs the DNC's position, which is $18.3 million in debt. The DNC has already scrapped plans for any competing event.
Dallas Economy Braces for a Political Surge — and Its Costs
The American Airlines Center typically charges around $125,000 per day in rental fees, according to FOX 4 Dallas. Local businesses expect a tourism boost from the two-day event. But Dallas city officials are worried about the cost of security and the possible "chilling effect" of protests, according to Devdiscourse.
The broader Texas economy adds more pressure. Pia Orrenius, a labor economist at the Dallas Fed, told Houston Chronicle that the state is dealing with "tepid job growth" tied in part to the administration's immigration crackdowns. Trump currently holds a 22-point net disapproval rating in national polls, per FiftyPlusOne, setting up a polarized backdrop for the September event.
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