Report: Trump’s advisers considering Las Vegas for midterm convention

President Donald Trump’s advisers are considering Las Vegas as the potential site of a midterm political convention next year, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The event would highlight Republican congressional candidates and promote the president’s record as his party seeks to maintain its narrow majorities in Congress.

According to The Journal, Trump first proposed the idea of holding a midterm political convention earlier this year, and his team has been developing plans for it ever since. Political conventions are traditionally reserved for presidential election years, but Democrats briefly held midterm gatherings in the 1970s and 1980s. Republicans have never done so before.

Trump’s advisers are evaluating other possible host cities, including Washington D.C. and locations in Texas, sources familiar with the discussion told The Journal. No final decision has been made. The president reportedly favors Las Vegas, a city where he has business ties through his co-ownership of the 64-story hotel bearing his name. As well, in 2024 he was the first Republican to carry Nevada in a presidential election in two decades.

The convention would likely take place near the start of early voting next year, The Journal reported. Trump wants the event to resemble a smaller version of last summer’s GOP convention in Milwaukee, which featured celebrity appearances. “Stay tuned, it will be quite the Event, and very exciting!” Trump said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, last month.

A source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Trump’s team is considering the idea, that it’s not definite and that it’s not certain the event would be held in Las Vegas.

Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald, a close Trump advisor, said Wednesday that he couldn’t speak for the national party, but noted that he’s been “bullish” about bringing election-year GOP conventions to the valley in the past.

“It’s almost a no-brainer to bring it here,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

McDonald said that Las Vegas has been able to successfully host large-scale events, such as the annual New Year’s Eve festivities on the Strip. He added that law enforcement agencies like the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI are well-equipped to keep massive crowds safe.

“There’s a no better place in the world than Las Vegas,” he said. “I think we can highlight the city, its leaders and diversity,” he added.

The Republican National Committee did not respond to an inquiry seeking comment.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kiersten Pels told The Journal that the party is “excited about the possibility of a midterm convention” and expects it to “showcase the party’s unity, vision, and commitment to expanding our majorities in 2026.” Democrats are reportedly exploring a similar event, though party officials have not confirmed any plans, The Journal reported.

Trump’s push for a midterm convention comes as Republicans look to protect their slim control of Congress. His administration has recently taken several steps to bolster conservative causes, including directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the liberal fundraising platform ActBlue, The Journal reported. Meanwhile, Democrats continue to regroup after last year’s loss, facing lagging fundraising totals and uncertainty over party leadership.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Kevin J. Barr at kbarr@reviewjournal.com. Review-Journal staff writer Ricardo Torres-Cortez contributed to this report.