Under the leadership of then-Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee changed their rules in the summer of 2022 to allow for the party to select their 2028 convention location even before the 2024 presidential election had taken place. By January 2023, the Republican National Committee was already taking preliminary steps in its site selection, including visits to some potential host cities.[1]
On August 25, 2023, the Republican National Committee chose Houston as the site of their 2028 convention.[7] This is an uncommonly early selection of a convention site.[8] The general sessions of the convention will take place at the city's Toyota Center arena.[9]
Preparations
As this was the first time that a presidential convention host city had been selected in advance of the preceding convention, Houston had the unprecedented luxury of watching the 2024 conventions while preparing for their own 2028 convention. A delegation from Houston attended the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to gain a better understanding.[10]