A dedicated nonprofit organization has been established to manage logistics and fundraising for the first Republican midterm convention scheduled for Dallas in September. The Dallas 2026 Host Committee, described as nonpartisan, aims to welcome visitors, support regional businesses, and offset municipal costs associated with the event.
The committee was formed following President Donald Trump’s selection of the American Airlines Center as the venue for the gathering on September 9 and 10. The event is anticipated to attract thousands of Republican delegates, donors, elected officials, and activists ahead of the November elections.
Ray Washburne, a Dallas developer and former finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, and his wife, fundraiser Heather Washburne, will serve as co-chairs. They are joined by Dallas entrepreneur Kenny Troutt and his wife, philanthropist Lisa Troutt, as well as Trent Morse, a former Trump administration official who worked on the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus will serve as a senior adviser to the group.
Organizers have characterized the gathering primarily as a fundraising effort rather than a traditional policy convention. Texas GOP Chair D'rinda Randall stated that no party business will be conducted. Instead, the state party has released a flyer outlining three contribution tiers that grant donors varying levels of access. A $20,000 donation provides honorary delegate status with floor seating, while a $15,000 contribution offers honorary alternate delegate credentials.
Cost estimates for hosting the convention range from $30 million to $40 million, according to organizers. The Dallas 2026 Host Committee has not released a specific cost breakdown, noting that the event will be privately funded by donors. Committee members emphasized that the convention will highlight Dallas’s hospitality and boost the local economy.
