Republican leaders are organizing an unusual off-year convention in Dallas this September to marshal support for their candidates in the November midterm congressional elections, according to two party insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The planned gathering, which President Donald Trump is expected to address, reflects a bid to energize the party’s base at a time when Republicans are anxious about preserving control of Congress for the president’s final two years in office. Off-year conventions are uncommon and are typically reserved for presidential election years.
Party sources said the event is likely to take place around the second week of September and may be hosted at the American Airlines Center. One news organization has reported the convention would be held on September 9-10. A request for comment to the White House did not receive an immediate response.
Republicans are facing what many inside the party describe as historical headwinds. The party occupying the White House in the first midterm after a presidential election historically loses congressional seats, a dynamic Republican operatives say they are trying to counter. The party is particularly concerned that voter unease over the economy and President Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran could dampen support for Republican candidates.
Organizers told reporters the goal of the Dallas convention is to rally the Make America Great Again base and drive turnout in November, when midterm elections typically see much lower participation than presidential contests. The timing and prominence of the event would further bind the president to the election’s outcome.
The effort takes on heightened significance in Texas, where Republicans are defending their long-standing dominance. Earlier this year President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Republican Senator John Cornyn in the primary. Paxton defeated Cornyn in that contest.
That primary result sets up a November matchup between Paxton and Democratic candidate James Talarico. Democrats view Paxton, who has faced scandals, as vulnerable and have directed significant financial resources to the race in hopes of breaking Republican control in the state.
Republican strategists see the Dallas gathering as a vehicle to mobilize loyal supporters and increase turnout, countering the historically lower participation characteristic of midterm elections. Party officials warn that a Democratic takeover of either the House of Representatives or the Senate would complicate President Trump’s agenda for the remainder of his term.
The planned convention, its timing, and the involvement of the president underscore the party’s assessment that concentrated, high-profile voter engagement in September could be decisive as campaigns move into the final months before November.