Trump advisors consider Las Vegas for midterm convention

President Trump’s advisers are considering Las Vegas as the location for the GOP’s midterm political convention next year, according to people involved in the discussions, as Republicans seek to preserve their narrow majority in Congress.

The convention would aim to support Republican candidates as the party. Trump has indicated to aides that the event would showcase both Republican congressional candidates and incumbents, while also highlighting his presidential accomplishments.

Trump initially proposed the idea of a midterm convention earlier this year, and his team is now developing plans for the event. Other locations under consideration include Texas and Washington, DC, though no final decision has been reached.

If confirmed, the event would mark an unusual move, as party conventions are traditionally held every four years to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates. 

This may be an indicator of how, in this polarized time in American politics, every election, even those in off years, seem to be taking a higher stakes feel. Instead of physical battles on the streets, the American right and left do battle at the ballot box.

There is rising anger and resentment from both sides, and both sides see winning elections as a way to channel their anger into tangible results. With the left shut out of power, they might be more motivated at the margins.

Added to this is the fact that the GOP now seems to be the lower propensity party in terms of voting in off year elections, a reversal of what the dynamic was 10 years ago, when Democrats did better in higher turnout elections and worse in lower turnout ones.

And President Trump loves the spotlight and campaigning, so a midterm convention would allow him to once again be even more the center of attention than he already is.