Republican figures gathered in Dallas for the party’s first midterm convention sounded off on the Iran war, socialism, Islam, affordability, and the future of the GOP as Republicans look to mobilize voters ahead of November.
During separate interviews with The Dallas Express, former Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, Detroit pastor Lorenzo Sewell, and Texas State Board of Education member Brandon Hall (R-District 11) offered their perspectives on the issues they believe Republicans should emphasize during the midterms.
The Republican Party held its first midterm convention at American Airlines Center in Dallas on September 9 and 10. Organizers said the event was intended to highlight President Donald Trump’s record, showcase Republican candidates, and unite the party ahead of the midterm elections.
Fishback breaks with Trump on Iran
Fishback said Republicans should use the convention to address economic concerns facing Americans.
“My hope is that we will talk about the issues that Americans are staying up at night every day, worrying about how can they afford gas, how can they afford their mortgage, is their job going to be there in a year, whether because of AI or arrogant immigration or whatever the case may be,” Fishback told The Dallas Express.
Fishback, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Florida governor this year, said he has disagreements with the Republican Party but still considers its platform superior.
“I have my disagreements with the Republican Party at times. That’s okay. I still think it’s the far superior platform and policy set for America, and I’m going to be supporting good Republicans up and down the ticket that are standing for America first,” Fishback said.
Fishback also broke with Trump over the ongoing war with Iran, an issue that loomed over the convention as Republicans prepared for November.
“I support what President Trump has historically done in the Middle East, which is peace through strength. I certainly don’t agree with him on this particular conflict,” Fishback said.
Fishback called for the war to end, arguing that doing so would bring American troops home and lower gas prices.
“What I want, I think, for Republicans and Democrats is this war to come to an end,” Fishback said. “I think that’s not just good for the party going into the midterms, but also good for the country.”
Fishback warns young voters against socialism
Fishback also urged Republicans to focus on affordability, homeownership, and employment.
“If we’re serious about protecting your job, stand up to H-1B companies that are importing cheap foreign labor and taking away jobs because if you lose your job, quite literally everything is unaffordable,” Fishback said.
Asked what message he had for young Republicans, Fishback warned against embracing democratic socialist candidates.
“Don’t be tempted by the lies and the false promises of the democratic socialists,” Fishback said. “A rose by any other name is just as sweet, and a communism by any other name is just as wicked.”
Fishback additionally called for eliminating what he characterized as foreign and foreign-aligned money from American politics.
“Get all foreign money out of American politics, whether it’s AIPAC, CAIR, India, or Sweden’s version of AIPAC,” Fishback said.
He called AIPAC “the most visible and maybe the most pernicious example.”
AIPAC, formally the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, says it is an American organization funded exclusively by Americans. Its political action committee is registered with the Federal Election Commission. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions, donations, expenditures, or disbursements in connection with federal, state, or local elections.
Sewell calls Trump a ‘tourniquet’
Sewell, a Detroit pastor who delivered a benediction at Trump’s second inauguration, described the president in explicitly religious terms.
“Our president has been the tourniquet to stop the bleeding from America spiritually,” Sewell told The Dallas Express.
Sewell pointed to what he described as the “Islamification” of the United States as an issue Christians and elected officials should confront.
“Look at the Islamification of our country. This is a time in which people are calling good evil and evil good,” Sewell said.
Asked how pastors and elected officials should respond, Sewell said voting should be the first step.
“The best thing that we can do is number one, vote,” Sewell said.
Sewell then made broader claims about Islam and assimilation.
“Islam is not looking to assimilate. Islam is looking to conquer. It is not a religion. It is a political movement that looks to conquer,” Sewell claimed.
The remarks represent Sewell’s characterization of Islam and do not establish the motivations or beliefs of Muslim Americans broadly.
Sewell also said Trump recently personally encouraged him to mobilize Christian voters.
“He said, ‘Pastor Lorenzo, I need the pastors. Christians do not vote during midterms. About 65% of Christians do not vote,’” Sewell recalled.
A similarly worded figure published by My Faith Votes, a Christian voter-mobilization organization, says more than 65 million Christians skip local elections. It does not say that 65% of Christians skip midterm elections.
Sewell additionally reflected on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ahead of the first anniversary of his death.
“If you’re a patriot, you need to say enough is enough,” Sewell said.
“We have to say enough is enough. We’ve lost our nation,” he added. “I’m going to get out of the boat and I will vote in 55 days.”
Hall calls for GOP to confront ‘Islamic invasion’
Hall, who represents District 11 on the Texas State Board of Education, similarly argued that Republicans should make concerns surrounding Islam a significant part of their midterm messaging.
“There’s a ton at stake for our country in this midterm election,” Hall told The Dallas Express. “There’s never been a more important election, and there’s never been a more big difference between the two parties.”
Hall acknowledged that he believes Republicans are facing a difficult political environment.
“We’re in a tough midterm cycle. I think if the election were to be today, I mean, I don’t like our chances, and the party hasn’t found an issue that really animates our voters,” Hall said.
Hall said he believes Republicans should focus more heavily on what he characterized as the “Islamic invasion.”
“I think that issue is fighting against the Islamic invasion,” Hall said. “It’s very important to our people, and so I think the party should do more messaging around that.”
Hall specifically referenced Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), and Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
“We need to say they’re the party of the anti-American, you know, America-hating Muslims, and we’re the party that’ll save this country,” Hall said.
Hall’s comments represent his characterization of the Democratic Party and the Muslim political figures he referenced, rather than a characterization by The Dallas Express of Muslim Americans generally.
Despite emphasizing different issues, Fishback, Sewell, and Hall each stressed the importance of mobilizing Republican voters ahead of November.
“I hope that we can make our message crystal clear and motivate our voters,” Hall said, “because the future of our country literally depends on it.”
Provided by Dallas Express
