SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Republicans are one step closer to finalizing plans for a midterm convention later this year.
The Republican National Committee approved a rule change during its winter meeting on Friday that would allow the party to hold a convention during a midterm election year.
“I’m incredibly excited about the possibility of hosting midterm convention to highlight what President Trump and Republicans have been able to accomplish this year,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said after the rule change was adopted. “If the president wants us to host a convention to highlight the great work this administration has done for the American people, we are doing the work now and will be ready to act when that time comes.”
The amendment was approved at the RNC’s winter meeting with no objections. An unusually high number of RNC members had already left the meeting to catch early flights ahead of winter storms bearing down on much of the country by the time the vote was brought up.
The rule authorizes the RNC to “conduct a special ceremonial convention between presidential conventions, such as a midterm convention,” said Bill O’Brien, the national committeeman from New Hampshire.
National party conventions have typically been held only during presidential elections in the modern era. But President Donald Trump announced in September that the party would be holding a “Midterm Convention,” leaving the party scrambling to execute.
The event would give Republicans an opportunity to message the administration’s wins and platform candidates in battleground races across the country as they fight to hold onto congressional control.
Democrats, who held a series of midterm-year national conventions in the 1970s, are also flirting with the possibility. At the Democratic National Committee’s winter meetings in Los Angeles last month, officials from Nebraska and Utah were among those jockeying to host the potential event.
Republicans have not yet announced where their convention will be held or when, though Nevada GOP leaders are pushing for Las Vegas to host.
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