DALLAS
Republicans are converging on Dallas for their first national midterm convention, a two-day show of force designed to energize voters and shore up the party's grip on Congress heading into November.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance top a roster of over 100 speakers at the American Airlines Center beginning Wednesday. The Republican National Committee expects roughly 20,000 attendees—the party's largest convention in a decade.
Trump will deliver the opening-night keynote Wednesday and return Thursday to give closing remarks. Vance headlines Thursday evening.
The convention rolls out the Trump administration's record on tax cuts, immigration, the economy and education. But it unfolds against a backdrop of political headwinds: competitive races nationwide and a tightening Senate contest in Texas itself.
Ken Paxton, the state's Republican attorney general and Trump endorsee, is fighting to keep his seat against Democrat James Talarico, a state representative. Recent polling shows the race narrowing. VoteHub's average has Talarico ahead by 2.4 percentage points, though the firm classifies the race as a toss-up—a designation reflecting the bloc of undecided voters who have historically favored Republicans.
Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, a fact that underscores the party's dominance even in a tightening race.
Gov. Greg Abbott, Paxton and other GOP leaders plan to use the Dallas platform to press the case for Republican control of both the state and Congress.
Trump's popularity with the Republican base factored into the choice of Dallas. "He can motivate Republicans like no other to get out and vote," said Jack Fink, Eye on Politics reporter for CBS News Texas.
