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Republican National Committee leaders are planning a first-of-its-kind midterm convention centered on President Donald Trump as the party seeks to energize voters and defend its congressional majorities.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump is expected to play a central role in a planned Republican National Committee midterm convention as GOP leaders look to rally voters ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, even though Trump will not be on the ballot.
Republican officials are preparing what RNC Chair Joe Gruters called a “Trump-a-palooza,” a convention-style event intended to showcase the party’s candidates, sharpen the contrast with Democrats and drive turnout among voters who have repeatedly backed Trump in presidential elections, the Washington Examiner reported.
The event would be the first of its kind for the RNC and is expected to take place after the final primary contests but before the November general election. Party officials have not announced a host city, though Texas appears to be a leading option after RNC representatives recently toured the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Iowa are also being considered.
Gruters said Trump will be the centerpiece of the convention as Republicans work to maintain control of Congress and keep the party’s base engaged during a midterm cycle.
“The upcoming Midterm Convention will be a Trump-a-palooza that will showcase the strength of the Republican Party and the candidates carrying President Trump’s America First agenda forward,” Gruters told the Examiner.
The plan reflects one of the GOP’s central political challenges this year: persuading Trump-aligned voters to participate in a midterm election. Republicans have benefited from Trump’s ability to bring out lower-propensity voters in presidential years, but midterm turnout has historically been more difficult for the party in power.
“We have a president that’s been able to turn out these low-propensity voters three different times,” Gruters said in a recent interview. “He will deliver for us this November.”
The White House also said Trump will continue to be a leading voice in the party’s midterm message.
“President Trump will continue to draw a sharp contrast with his commonsense agenda and the radical Democrats in Congress,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said.
Republican leaders are expected to use the convention to highlight major House and Senate races, including a closely watched Texas Senate contest that could draw hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign spending. Party strategists believe Trump’s involvement could help generate media attention, energize grassroots activists and keep Republican candidates aligned around his America First agenda.
Pennsylvania Republican strategist Vince Galko said Trump voters remain essential to GOP success.
“When Trump voters show up to the polls, Republicans win,” Galko told the Examiner.
Democrats are not planning a similar midterm convention, saying they prefer to put resources directly into campaign operations.
Republicans, however, argue that Trump’s ability to draw crowds, dominate political coverage and motivate the party’s most loyal voters gives them an advantage as Election Day approaches. The planned convention is expected to make Trump the defining figure of the GOP’s closing midterm push, even from off the ballot.
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