Republican Midterm Candidates Mostly Skip Texas Convention, Testing Trump Loyalty

With less than two months until the midterm election, a majority of Republican candidates in competitive districts are opting out of the party’s Dallas convention slated for September 9-10. A poll of over two dozen House and Senate contenders showed only two non-incumbents—Eric Flores of Texas and Mike Bouchard of Michigan—will be present, while incumbents like Tom Barrett and Gabe Evans have publicly ruled out traveling to the American Airlines Center.

The gathering is being viewed as a litmus test of Donald Trump’s sway over the GOP base, yet many candidates fear that appearing with the president could damage their appeal to moderate voters in close races. Republican strategist Kevin Madden noted the convention’s goal is to rally active supporters and attract swing voters, but some state party leaders argue the timing is too late for effective ground campaigning. The $25,000 attendance cost and the event’s timing have further discouraged participation. Meanwhile, Trump announced a nationwide road-trip in the final 30 days, focusing on pivotal Senate contests in Alaska and Texas, though many local campaign staffs are not urging his presence.