<\/p>\n
A logo of the Republican Party’s first midterm convention is displayed at the American Airlines Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tom Fox\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Congress \u00a0will get top billing <\/a>when President Donald Trump brings the GOP\u2019s political roadshow <\/a>to Dallas. But farther down the ballot, his party has plenty at stake in the convention\u2019s backyard.<\/p>\n Republicans are defending two state House seats <\/a>in Dallas County, where their influence has steadily fallen.<\/p>\n They also are working to preserve control of major offices in Tarrant County, targeting a Democratic lawmaker in Collin County and seeking to recapture a state Senate district lost in a special election this year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n For the candidates, the MAGA doubleheader Sept. 9-10 at the American Airlines Center could be a boost or a burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n Republicans hope to energize supporters who might skip a midterm election. Democrats aim to turn Trump\u2019s unpopularity into votes in close races.<\/p>\n Republican National Committee officials described the event last week as a \u201cprimetime showcase for President Trump\u2019s success, candidates and causes that have propelled the 2026 midterms to unprecedented focus.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are the down-ballot contests closest to the action:<\/p>\n Dallas defense<\/p>\n State Rep. Angie Chen Button.<\/p>\n Steve Hamm\/Special Contributor<\/p>\n State Reps. Angie Chen Button of Garland and Morgan Meyer <\/a>of University Park are the only Republican legislators who live in Dallas County, where Democrats have dominated countywide elections since 2006.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Button, who in 2024 was reelected to a ninth term in District 112 by 8 percentage points, faces Democrat Zach Herbert, an attorney and Marine veteran.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meyer, an attorney first elected in 2014 in District 108, is being challenged by Democrat Allison Mitchell, a small-business owner and children\u2019s book author.<\/p>\n A national Democratic group focused on state legislatures has made both districts priorities as it targets 12 Republican-held Texas House seats. Republicans hold an 88-62 majority in the chamber.<\/p>\n Republican consultant Craig Murphy, who works for Button and other House candidates, said she has fended off serious Democratic challenges since 2018 and is positioned to prevail again.<\/p>\n He questioned whether the convention or any backlash against it would change the race.\u00a0<\/p>\n Democratic consultant Jeff Dalton, who manages Herbert\u2019s campaign, said he believes Republicans decided to hold the convention to gin up less-enthusiastic voters and get them to the polls.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThe clock has run out,\u201d Dalton said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to work for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Two county fronts<\/p>\n Tarrant is the largest urban county in Texas still controlled by Republicans, making it a major Democratic target.<\/p>\n Republicans are defending County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare <\/a>against County Commissioner Alisa Simmons<\/a> and District Attorney\u00a0Phil Sorrells<\/a> against defense attorney and former prosecutor Tiffany Burks. O’Hare and Sorrells are endorsed by Trump.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Collin County, Republicans want to unseat state Rep. Mihaela Plesa,<\/a> the county\u2019s only Democratic legislator. National Democratic groups are targeting Republican state Reps. Jeff Leach, Matt Shaheen and Keresa Richardson.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Senate rematch<\/p>\n Democratic Sen. Taylor Rehmet and Republican nominee Leigh Wambsganss are headed for a rematch for the Tarrant County state Senate seat.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n philip.jankowski@dallasnews.com<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n