Trump-backed Texas convention puts Republican control under pressure

The Republican National Committee has held its first midterm convention in Dallas, seeking to mobilise voters ahead of the 3 November US elections. The event has been dominated by Donald Trump, who will not appear on the ballot but remains central to the party’s campaign strategy.

Texas has been controlled by Republicans for three decades, and no Democrat has won statewide office there since 1994. The state is now a key test of whether that hold can withstand Democratic pressure and concerns over Republican leadership.

Some polls have reportedly shown Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico leading or tied with Republican Ken Paxton. Trump endorsed Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary, adding a direct presidential connection to the contest.

Governor Greg Abbott, a close Trump ally, faces Democrat Gina Hinojosa, while three US House districts, including two held by Republicans, are considered toss-ups. Voters interviewed in Dallas offered sharply different assessments of the convention, describing it either as an energising mobilisation effort or as political entertainment.

Analysts say Texas remains symbolically important to Republican politics and has served as a testing ground for policies aligned with Trump’s agenda on immigration, voting and mid-decade redistricting. Rights groups have criticised elements of those policies, including alleged racial profiling, disproportionate ballot rejection and racial gerrymandering.

The convention’s effect on turnout and election results is not yet measurable. But analysts say Republicans have chosen to embrace Trump, rather than distance themselves from him, despite reported concerns over his approval rating, economic pressures and a possible Democratic backlash.