The Republican Party held its first national midterm gathering in Dallas, a city located about 31 miles east of Fort Worth. The two-day event took place at the American Airlines Center, a venue with a capacity of roughly 20,000, which is larger than Dickies Arena, the biggest facility in Fort Worth.
While the convention did not adopt a platform or count delegates, it featured more than 100 speakers across two six-hour sessions. Tarrant County Republican Party chairman Tim Davis told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he had received inquiries from every candidate on the local ballot regarding access to the event.
Dallas political consultant Brian Mayes explained to KERA that the location choice prioritized media visibility, noting that the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked as the fourth-largest media market last year with most outlets based in Dallas. The Denton County Republican Party, citing the RNC, told its members the event was "a ticketed fundraiser and rally, not a traditional national convention."
House members were required to pay a minimum of $25,000 for attendance with a guest, while the Denton County Republican Party advertised packages from $5,000 to $20,000. The Dallas Host Committee reported raising $45 million in private donations in under a month.
President Trump spoke on both nights and closed the event Thursday after Vice President JD Vance's keynote. On the first night he pledged to return to Texas two or three more times to support Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. Trump also proposed a $5,000 payment to adult citizens if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress. Democratic members of Congress, gathered across the street from the arena on Thursday, called the proposal an "empty promise."
Security costs for the event approached $2 million, and over 100 protesters marched through downtown Dallas on the final day. Two individuals were arrested during the demonstrations, according to Dallas police.
