CPAC to Kick Off in Texas With Speakers Including Federal Officials, Conservative Influencers

This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), kicking off in the Dallas area on March 25, is aimed at unifying conservatives and building midterm momentum.

​The Texas event’s Freedom First theme, aimed at unifying conservatives and countering socialism, begins with the International Faith and International Summits, followed by dinners, social events, and speakers throughout the week.

​Further drawing attention to the gathering, headline speakers at the annual conference include Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

President Donald Trump himself wasn’t on the event schedule, according to the itinerary released one day before the March 25 to March 28 conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

Trump’s absence from the conference is notable, as it is well attended by his base of supporters. It would mark a departure from tradition for the president, as Trump has consistently participated in such events since 2017.

​The Dallas-area conference follows a year of expansion for CPAC.

Throughout 2025, the organization hosted a series of issue-driven events across the country, from Wall Street to Beverly Hills, with a goal of shaping critical policy conversations and energizing grassroots leadership.

Internationally, CPAC staged summits in Japan, Hungary, Poland, Australia, and Paraguay, while building new partnerships across Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Reflecting its expanding reach, this year’s event will feature CPAC’s growing global presence. Speakers will include Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Australian political leader Warren Mundine, Israeli minister Gila Gamliel, and Brazilian political figures Eduardo Bolsonaro and his brother Flávio Bolsonaro, who is running against the country’s left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. All will take the stage throughout the event.

Adding to the conference lineup, other administration notables making an appearance include Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and border czar Tom Homan.

​Also, this year’s conference features speakers from the conservative influence wing. Commentator Benny Johnson, media personality Jack Posobiec, and citizen journalist and influencer Nick Shirley are expected to draw large crowds.

​To further diversify the audience, organizers hope Gen Z personalities Xaviaer DuRousseau and Isabel Brown will attract younger voters.

​Actor Dean Cain, country artist Claire Dunn, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Luke Branquinho, TV personality Todd Chrisley, and former ambassador and acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell will round out the mix.

Finally, no Texas event could be complete without a touch of Lonestar politics. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will speak at the Ronald Reagan Dinner on March 27. Paxton is in a Republican primary runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who isn’t scheduled to appear at CPAC.