Republicans Plan First National Midterm Convention to Boost Election Turnout

President Donald Trump announced that the Republican Party will hold its first national convention ahead of the November midterm elections. The event, designed to increase voter turnout, will take place in Dallas on September 9 and 10.

Traditionally, major parties hold large-scale conventions during presidential election years. However, Trump has been considering a similar gathering this year to focus attention on numerous House and Senate races. The outcome of these elections will determine if Republicans can maintain control of Congress. A Democratic victory in either chamber could lead to significant obstacles for Trump’s agenda, as well as potential investigations into his administration during the remaining two years of his term.

Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in Congress, and historically, the party with control tends to lose ground in midterm elections. Trump is not on the ballot, which worries some Republican leaders about motivation among their voters. Trump hopes the convention will energize voters and has been discussing the idea since last year. In a social media post, Trump mentioned Republican achievements since the 2024 Presidential Election, adding, “We will also have lots of Great Entertainment — It will be a RALLY like none other!”

The Democratic National Committee considered organizing a similar midterm convention but decided against it due to financial constraints, including sluggish fundraising and significant debt. Democrats view the GOP convention as an opportunity to link Republican candidates to Trump, whose approval ratings are currently low.

By hosting the convention in Texas, attention is drawn to the state’s Senate race between Democratic nominee James Talarico and Republican nominee Ken Paxton. Despite backing from Trump, Paxton, the current state attorney general, defeated Sen. John Cornyn in a primary earlier this year. Paxton’s history of scandals, including an extramarital affair, an impeachment, and a securities fraud case that did not result in conviction, concerns Republican Senate leaders. They fear these issues might jeopardize his campaign, turning a potentially secure seat into a liability.

The convention also underscores the impact of Trump’s redistricting efforts in Texas. His strategy aimed to secure additional seats for Republicans in the upcoming elections. The Republican National Committee prepared for this by adjusting procedures related to quadrennial presidential nominating conventions during its winter meeting in January.

While Democrats considered a similar gathering, they abandoned the notion. However, they did hold midterm conventions in past decades, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s.

For further information, Meg Kinnard can be contacted at x.com/MegKinnardAP. Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper contributed to this report.