GOP chief says Dallas convention isn’t about Paxton, but Senate race looms large

Republicans say they aren’t bringing the Trump-led convention to Dallas because of Texas’ marquee Senate race.

But they’re certainly talking about it.

Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters said the party was already confident Attorney General Ken Paxton would win, so the race did not drive the decision to hold the GOP event Sept. 9-10 in the American Airlines Center.

Even so, Gruters said the Republican National Committee is prepared to step in if needed to help Paxton’s campaign against Democrat James Talarico, a state representative from Austin.

“We’ll do whatever is needed to make sure Ken Paxton is going to get over the finish line as a winner,” Gruters said in a joint interview with The Dallas Morning News and NBC5 that aired Sunday on Lone Star Politics.

Gruters said Republicans plan to use the convention to draw sharp contrasts with Talarico on religion, gender and lifestyle issues while portraying Paxton as “an all-American MAGA warrior” who would advance President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Talarico has acknowledged that some of his past comments were “intentionally provocative” but said Republicans are selectively clipping those remarks to distract from questions about Paxton’s conduct.

Texas Democrats also have ridiculed the convention as a made-for-TV political “circus.”

Gruters, on the program, said Dallas stands to gain as host of the fall gathering, pointing to the influx of delegates, media and visitors.

Trump announced the convention last week in a social media post, calling it a “truly Historic Event” that would celebrate what he described as the country’s “Great American Comeback” and his administration’s accomplishments. 

Gruters said Dallas won out because President Donald Trump loves the city and because Texas remains one of the party’s strongest states.

“The president loves Dallas, Texas, and the support he’s gotten there over the years, and Texas overall as a state, I think was probably the deciding factor,” Gruters said. “We’re very excited about Dallas.”

The event also will look different from the presidential nominating conventions. There will be no official party business or presidential nominee to select.

GOP leaders hope the convention will boost turnout in races that will determine control of Congress. Republicans have only slim majorities in Washington, and the party in power normally loses ground in the midterms.

Anyone interested in attending should contact their state Republican Party about becoming a delegate, Gruters said.

Beyond the politics, plenty of questions remain.

Organizers say the event could cost as much as $40 million and donors will finance it. But it’s unclear who will reimburse Dallas for police, fire, traffic control and other public safety costs. City officials last week declined to respond to requests for comment.

Also to be determined is whether the public will be allowed to attend and how tickets will be distributed.

Gruters said the RNC has coordinated with Dallas officials and expects the convention to provide a local windfall.

Restaurant workers, hotels and businesses that serve convention visitors should all benefit from the crowds and national attention, he said.

“Dallas is going to be highlighted overall from many different angles,” he said. “They’re the big winner.”