The Republican Party is holding an unprecedented midterm convention in Dallas on September 9 and 10, aimed at energizing its base ahead of elections.
Party officials, donors, candidates, and lawmakers have converged on Dallas for the two-day event, hoping to present a unified and forward-looking message to voters.
Many Republicans attending the convention are quietly hoping President Donald Trump will not make the gathering entirely about himself.
According to interviews with dozens of Republicans, the preferred approach involves a two-pronged strategy focused on Democratic overreach and Republican legislative achievements.
Chief among those accomplishments is the sweeping tax legislation passed in July 2025, which Republicans have branded a signature win for the party and the country.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) made clear how he viewed the convention’s purpose, saying, “It’s incredibly important that we highlight what we’ve accomplished.”
Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas) echoed that sentiment, stating, “It’s a great opportunity for us to brag about what the Republican Party has done the last year and a half — so certainly talking about the One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Trump’s involvement in the convention has introduced internal divisions, with vulnerable Republicans divided over whether his presence helps or hurts candidates in competitive races.
Polls show many Americans have soured on the Trump administration, citing growing frustration with inflation, the economy, and the ongoing war in Iran.
Trump’s declining national approval rating has given Democrats renewed optimism heading into the midterms, with statewide races across Texas showing signs of tightening.
Party strategists see the Dallas convention as a critical opportunity to counter that momentum and remind Republican voters what is at stake in the upcoming elections.
The core challenge for GOP leadership is balancing Trump’s outsized political persona against the broader message the party hopes to deliver to swing-state and swing-district voters.
Republicans are hoping the convention produces a compelling enough pitch to pull committed supporters off the sidelines and drive turnout in key races across the country.
