Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the GOP plans to hold a midterm convention in Dallas this September, a rare event party officials have discussed as a way to rally voters before the November elections.
Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, made the comments during a tele-town hall Monday, according to CNN and The Texas Tribune.
“I know that we are having the midterm convention in Dallas in September,” Paxton said, according to reports. “I know that we anticipate [Trump] coming to that and speaking.”
The Republican National Committee has discussed the idea of a midterm convention but has not yet made a formal announcement or confirmed the location. Party officials toured the American Airlines Center in Dallas earlier this year as they considered hosting options.
The Republican National Committee amended its bylaws in January to allow for a midterm convention, Texas Scorecard reported.
The event is expected to take place after primaries conclude in all states but before early voting begins, according to The Texas Tribune, citing a source familiar with the plans. Party officials have described the convention as a way to energize Republican voters and highlight the Trump administration’s record.
Focus on Texas Senate Race
The gathering would place Texas at the center of national attention as Paxton faces Democratic nominee James Talarico in a competitive U.S. Senate race. Republicans also hope to flip additional U.S. House seats in the state.
Texas GOP figures have received prominent roles at past national events. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and other Texas Republicans spoke from the main stage.
Republicans have historically faced challenges in midterm elections when a president from their party is not on the ballot. Party leaders view the convention as a way to mobilize low-propensity voters and frame the contests as a referendum on the Trump administration.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters has described the planned event as “Trump-a-palooza,” according to The Texas Tribune. An official announcement is expected soon and may come from President Donald Trump on Truth Social.
Democrats held similar midterm conventions in past decades but decided against one this cycle due to limited resources.
