Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters stated that the party’s inaugural Midterm Convention, scheduled for September 9 and 10 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, will focus heavily on President Trump’s achievements. Gruters described the upcoming gathering as a "Trumpapalooza" designed to highlight the administration’s policies and personnel while energizing support for Republican candidates ahead of the November elections.
The event marks the first time the GOP has held a midterm convention. President Trump announced the initiative on his Truth Social platform, calling it a historic occasion that has never occurred before. Gruters noted that the convention concept originated with the President. When asked why the party selected Dallas, Gruters pointed to the city’s central location and its status as one of the President’s favorite cities, noting that significant political activity is currently underway in Texas.
A primary focus of the convention will be the U.S. Senate race in Texas, where Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is competing against Democrat James Talarico. While polls indicate the contest is tightly contested, Gruters expressed confidence in a Republican outcome. He characterized Texas as a "ruby red" state and predicted Paxton would win by a substantial margin, citing Paxton’s previous statewide victories and his large primary win. Gruters affirmed the party’s full support for Paxton’s campaign.
Kendall Scudder, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, offered a contrasting perspective on the venue selection. In an interview with CBS News Texas, Scudder suggested that the Republican choice of Texas over other competitive states like Iowa, Maine, or Alaska indicates fear regarding their internal polling data. He questioned why the party would choose Texas when other regions are experiencing more intense political battles.
Gruters also addressed recent legal developments, specifically a Supreme Court ruling that removed restrictions on coordination between national parties and individual campaigns. He stated that this decision allows the RNC to work directly with candidates in the House and Senate, including Paxton. Gruters highlighted the party’s financial strength, reporting that the RNC holds approximately $127 million in cash on hand, a figure he claimed is the highest in the organization’s history for three consecutive months. He described this as a significant fundraising advantage over the Democratic National Committee.
