GRAPEVINE, Texas — Participants from across the world gathered in Grapevine on Wednesday for the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference convention, where they will discuss ideas on domestic affairs, economic growth and foreign policy. For some, the biggest goal is unifying conservatives ahead of November’s critical midterm elections, while developing a united front in support of ...

Tom Homan, White House border czar, speaks during a discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Grapevine, Texas.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images North America/TNS

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Participants from across the world gathered in Grapevine on Wednesday for the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference convention, where they will discuss ideas on domestic affairs, economic growth and foreign policy.

For some, the biggest goal is unifying conservatives ahead of November’s critical midterm elections, while developing a united front in support of President Donald Trump.

“Good government matters, and to get good government, you have to bring people from disparate opinions together,” said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham during the first day of the convention. “You have to listen to others, then you really come through with what is a clear path to better serve Texas and our country.”

Buckingham said conservatives, including those gathered for the CPAC convention, aren’t always united.

“That’s our liberty minds,” she said. “We don’t always walk in the same row together.”

“I would love to see us a little more unified,” she added. “The movement is strong and we’re doing great things.”

During the convention, conservatives are expected to discuss the conflict in Iran, Trump’s tariff policies and other foreign and domestic issues.

For decades, CPAC has blended passionate grassroots conservatives with Republican elected leaders and right-leaning media members. Most of them rally around Trump, who helped advance the organization during his political rise and terms as president.

Convention goers said Wednesday they were drawn to Grapevine out of curiosity — and desire to be part of the conversation.

“I find it fascinating to have a front-row seat and to see a lot of the people who are involved with legislating our laws and our policies, and hear their perspective on things,” said Gary Leograde, a real estate broker from White Plains, N.Y. “There’s a nice diversity of thought, different perspectives, ways of looking at things.”

Leograde, who said he’s a conservative that doesn’t necessarily vote along party lines, said he’s drawn to CPAC because speakers are challenged to back up their views.

“You get critiqued on your views in front of a large audience and that’s a very powerful thing,” he said. “We need more communication in this country.”

Violet Radpay said she was born in Iran, spent many years in Germany and now lives in Dallas. She said she hoped the CPAC conversation would center on promoting peace.

“No matter if it’s Iran, Africa, Germany or the United States, we all need to live in freedom,” she said, adding that Trump was a good man.

Aiden Fox, president of the College Republicans at Ohio University, said his contingent from the school is excited about mingling with like-minded conservatives.

“We’re from a very liberal campus and a very liberal community,” he said. “To see that there are other people out there who think what they think — it’s good for the students to get a feel for what the rest of the nation is feeling at the moment.”

The annual CPAC gathering comes to North Texas as the state’s bitterly contested GOP Senate runoff unfolds. Incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is trying to hold off a challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the May runoff.

Cornyn is skipping the CPAC event, while Paxton will speak at a Friday night dinner.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is scheduled to address the convention Saturday.