From Dallas Express · Dallas Express · · 2m
Dallas hosts the GOP's first midterm convention
Trump, Vance and $51 million in ad money turned one week in North Texas into a national fight.
In brief
Trump, Vance and $51 million in ad money turned one week in North Texas into a national fight. Texas is where the 2026 midterms are being staged and funded, from the convention floor in Dallas to a Senate race drawing tens of millions in outside ads. Originally reported by Dallas Express.
The arena became the campaign
American Airlines Center hosted the Republican Party's first midterm convention, with President Trump and Vice President Vance making the case for November over two days.
“the event put American Airlines Center at the center of national politics”
A $5,000 dividend and a warning
Day one brought Trump's $5,000 dividend proposal, a Paxton warning and a Fetterman video. Day two closed with Trump, Vance, Abbott and Cruz.
Charlie Kirk took center stage
One year after his assassination, Kirk's legacy anchored a tribute inside the arena. Outside it, Dallas police arrested two people during an anti-Trump march.
Cowboy hats and rhinestones
Delegates gave the gathering a distinctly Dallas character, and Republican voices on the floor sounded off on Iran, socialism and what some called an Islamic invasion.
“Cowboy Hats, Rhinestones And The People”
Outside money floods the Senate race
MAGA Inc. and America PAC reported about $12.4 million backing Ken Paxton or opposing James Talarico, while Texas PAC reserved $51.3 million in TV ads.
“For They/Them, Not You”
McKinney residents push a recall
U.S. Rep. Keith Self backed a recall campaign built on growth, traffic, airport financing and City Hall accountability.
“We've Had Enough”
Dallas shuts the camera doors
Police cut Flock license-plate data sharing from more than 1,500 agencies to 202 Texas agencies, as other Texas cities dropped the cameras entirely.
H-1B jobs tied to TxDOT
Federal records linked 193 proposed H-1B positions to TxDOT worksites through private employers, and a DHS proposal would end the job-loss grace period for those visa holders.
Schools rewrite Texas history
The state finished a K-12 social studies overhaul built around Western civilization, free enterprise and personal financial literacy. The Baby Gabriel case reached the Supreme Court.
The bottom line
Texas is where the 2026 midterms are being staged and funded, from the convention floor in Dallas to a Senate race drawing tens of millions in outside ads.
