Republicans have opened the first-ever GOP midterm convention in Dallas, placing President Donald Trump at the centre of the party’s campaign to defend its record before November’s elections.
The two-day gathering began on Wednesday, September 9, at the American Airlines Center, where speakers sought to rally activists and present the 2026 election as a choice between Republican “common sense” and what House majority whip Tom Emmer described as “communism”.
Trump arrived in Dallas after his departure from Joint Base Andrews was briefly delayed when an emergency slide deployed from the new Air Force One. The president said the aircraft was undergoing checks before boarding the plane for Texas.
He was expected to deliver the keynote address on the first night, with a further appearance scheduled for Thursday alongside Vice-President JD Vance. The Republican Party has presented the event as a high-profile showcase for the administration and its candidates.
Trump takes centre stage at Republican midterm convention
The convention is part rally and part fundraiser, with organisers aiming to energise Republican voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The event is also intended to give the party a unified message as it seeks to protect its narrow majorities in Congress.
Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters opened proceedings with a ceremonial gavel, telling delegates that the party stood for “faith, family, community and country”. The opening programme included the national anthem and “America the Beautiful”, followed by speeches praising the president’s record.
Texas politicians were prominent among the early speakers. Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate, was due to address the convention as he campaigns for a seat in Washington.
Other speakers included House candidates and members of Congress seeking to define the party’s priorities. Florida representative Anna Paulina Luna called for an end to congressional stock trading, while Wisconsin representative Derrick Van Orden defended Republican healthcare policy and highlighted investment in rural health services.
Van Orden, who faces one of the more difficult re-election contests among House Republicans, argued that the party could provide affordable and accessible healthcare while crediting Trump with advancing its agenda.
The gathering has exposed the extent to which the Republican campaign remains closely tied to Trump. Some lawmakers in competitive races have stayed in their home states to campaign, while others have travelled to Dallas in the hope of benefiting from the president’s support and national profile.
Republican organisers said they expected about 30,000 people to attend across the two days. The party has promoted the convention as a first-of-its-kind event designed to celebrate the administration’s achievements and set the tone for the final stretch of the midterm campaign.
