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LetMyPeopleVote

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18. MaddowBlog-Republicans to hold rare midterm convention, creating two problems
Thu Jul 2, 2026, 06:20 PM
18 hrs ago

Party officials are moving forward with plans for a 2026 convention in Dallas, but given the bigger picture, they probably ought to reconsider.



https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republican-midterm-convention-dallas-trump-election

Most voters probably know that the nation’s major political parties gather every four years for a major national convention, at which they formally nominate their respective presidential tickets. The quadrennial events also offer the parties an opportunity to put their best foot forward while they have the national spotlight......

As the process moved forward, the Democratic National Committee ultimately decided not to bother with such a gathering, but earlier this year the Republican National Committee approved a plan for a midterm convention, and it now appears that it’s actually going to happen. The Associated Press reported:

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Republicans will hold their first-ever national convention ahead of November’s midterm elections, an unusual event aimed at boosting turnout in races that will decide whether the party maintains control of Congress.

The convention will be held in Dallas on Sept. 9 and 10
.


..Whether Republican officials appreciate it or not, there are two main problems they should probably keep in mind. The first is that holding a national convention is extremely expensive. Indeed, when Democrats abandoned their midterm conventions several decades ago, it was largely because they simply saw better uses for limited financial resources.

Republicans have a significant financial advantage over Democrats, but that doesn’t make it any easier to justify throwing several million dollars at an unnecessary event in September.

But there’s another dimension to this that’s just as important: One of the underlying points of a national convention is nationalizing an election cycle — and given how very unpopular the incumbent Republican president is, the party should be going out of its way to localize the midterms.

Indeed, it’s likely that many Democratic officials are looking forward to the GOP’s convention, since it will give the minority party an opportunity to do what it wants to do anyway: connect Republican candidates and officeholders to Trump.

I was a Clinton Delegate to the 2016 National Convention in Philadelphia. National Conventions are not cheap to put on and are not cheap to attend.

Here trump wants a platform to nationalize the midterms. Many GOP candidates would probably prefer that trump take a less active role in the midterms. Given that this convention is in Dallas, I have a feeling that Paxton will be getting some attention that he not appreciate.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This is a bad idea. mr715 Tuesday #1
Shhhh senseandsensibility Tuesday #2
I think this may help Paxton, at the expense of everyone else. mr715 Tuesday #3
Absolutely MustLoveBeagles Tuesday #5
Get McConnell!! vanlassie Tuesday #6
I think Collins will be concerned about it to the point that she will wait until after the election to join him Uncle Joe Tuesday #14
No way Vivek is invited Diraven Tuesday #16
He's been talking about this for a while Boo1 Tuesday #4
Well they must be worried about November Raven123 Tuesday #7
My thoughts exactly. johnnyfins Tuesday #13
wow... the GOP's polling on Talerico/Paxton must be BAD for Paxton. Takket Tuesday #8
Please proceed, asshole . . . hatrack Tuesday #9
Very odd timing: Sep 9-10 newdeal2 Tuesday #10
i hope to get a group of people to stand outside it with signs that say moonshinegnomie Tuesday #11
The Westboro Baptist Church would be PERFECT for this ! Oh, please, oh, please, oh please, show up........ FadedMullet Wednesday #17
The Democratic Convention in Texas must've made an impression on him. Uncle Joe Tuesday #12
I'm sure it will be the BEST in US HISTORY! "REMEMBER THE CONVENTION!" ColoringFool Tuesday #15
MaddowBlog-Republicans to hold rare midterm convention, creating two problems LetMyPeopleVote 18 hrs ago #18
Trump's 'risky' GOP convention idea shows his 'stranglehold' is slipping: analysts LetMyPeopleVote 15 hrs ago #19
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