Republicans open two-day Dallas midterm convention as Donald Trump rallies support in Texas

Gathering in Dallas

The Republican National Committee opened a two-day national convention in Dallas on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, seeking to rally party loyalists ahead of the November 3 midterm vote. The gathering, which Donald Trump initially announced in June, brings congressional leaders and state delegates together in a shortened version of a presidential convention. House Speaker Mike Johnson joined Trump to make the case for retaining legislative control, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 33 Senate seats, and dozens of governorships on the ballot. Midterm conventions remain unusual in United States politics, functioning as an abbreviated version of the quadrennial nominating assemblies. Despite trailing in generic congressional polls and facing low approval ratings, Trump told supporters to treat the November 3 vote as a direct referendum on his leadership, insisting that victory depends on voters acting as if he were on the ballot himself.

Intra-party divides over midterms strategy

The gathering in Dallas has created tactical disagreements among congressional Republicans. Several lawmakers facing difficult re-election campaigns in battleground districts opted to avoid the event entirely, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. While past presidents including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden permitted down-ballot candidates to distance themselves during midterm cycles, Trump has urged candidates to embrace his agenda directly. Speaking to party members, presidential historian Tevi Troy described the dynamic in comments to The Washington Post.

He considers any form of distancing from his person or policy as a personal affront.

Democrats have seized on the convention to link local Republican candidates to the national administration. Representative Jamie Raskin addressed the event during a campaign appearance.

Trump controls Republicans in Congress like a pack of trained seals.

Suburban battlefield in North Texas

Texas serves as a focal point for the Republican gathering, where Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democratic nominee James Talarico in the Senate race. Paxton secured the Republican nomination after defeating incumbent Senator John Cornyn with Trump's endorsement, but polls show him trailing Talarico. Republicans have controlled every branch of Texas government for three decades, with no Democrat winning statewide office since 1994, but suburban shifts across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have narrowed their margins. Paxton is from McKinney in Collin County, one of three suburban counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth region alongside Denton and Tarrant where the outcome will be decided. In Collin and Denton, about half of adult residents hold college degrees, compared to 35 percent in Tarrant, while median household incomes range from $84,207 in Tarrant to $121,600 in Collin. In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush carried Collin by 43 percentage points, Denton by 40.5 points, and Tarrant by 25.4 points, though Democratic performance has grown in suburban precincts since 2016. To reinforce Paxton's campaign, the MAGA Inc. political action committee invested $10 million in television advertising, accompanied by resources from Elon Musk's America PAC.

Voter perspectives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

Voters in Texas express divided views regarding the national convention and the economic climate. In Dallas, rock quarry owner Cody Johnson argued that Trump's presence would help mobilize the conservative base against Democratic gains.

Texas is leaning purple. This will definitely help... Trump can energise a voter.

Other residents raised concerns regarding the administration's policy trajectory, citing the cost of groceries and fuel alongside broader economic challenges, trade tariffs, and conflict involving Iran. Marketing specialist Shania Spears noted that local voters remain frustrated with high costs and state governance under Governor Greg Abbott.

It's just entertainment. It's like a circus.