Republicans Gather in Dallas for 2-Day Midterm Convention Billed as ‘Trump-a-Palooza’/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Republicans are holding an unusual two-day convention in Dallas designed to energize voters ahead of the November midterms. Donald Trump will speak on both nights alongside JD Vance, Cabinet officials, congressional leaders and candidates from competitive races. Although more than 100 Republican lawmakers and candidates are expected, others are staying away because of campaign obligations, family plans or attendance costs.
Quick Look
- The Republican gathering runs Wednesday and Thursday in Dallas.
- RNC Chairman Joe Gruters called it a “Trump-a-Palooza.”
- Trump is scheduled to address the convention on both nights.
- Vice President JD Vance will speak before Trump on Thursday.
- More than 100 speakers are included in 12 hours of programming.
- Announced topics include taxes, border security, fraud allegations and congressional stock trading.
- The public schedule does not include a segment dedicated to the Iran war.
- Many Republican candidates are skipping the gathering.
- House Republicans reportedly were asked to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging.
- Trump-aligned groups are increasing spending in competitive congressional races.
- Democrats are responding with economic messaging and campaign events.
Deep Look
Republicans convene in Dallas before midterms
NEW YORK (AP)— Republican officials, candidates and activists are gathering in Dallas for an unconventional two-day midterm convention centered heavily on President Donald Trump.
The event combines a political rally with fundraising and campaign programming as Republicans seek to motivate voters before the final stretch of the 2026 elections.
Organizers described the gathering as “a primetime showcase for President Trump’s success, candidates, and causes that have propelled the 2026 midterms to unprecedented focus.”
The program will also criticize Democrats and highlight the party’s progressive wing in an effort to portray Democratic candidates as outside the political mainstream.
Trump scheduled to speak twice
Unlike traditional national conventions, the Dallas gathering will not nominate a presidential candidate.
Major party conventions ordinarily take place every four years during presidential elections. In 2024, Trump used the Republican National Convention to announce JD Vance as his running mate.
The Dallas schedule instead places Trump at the center of a midterm campaign in which he is not personally on the ballot.
“It’s gonna be a Trump-a-Palooza,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters told Spectrum News.
Trump will deliver a keynote address Wednesday and return Thursday to close the convention after Vance speaks. The president initially had been scheduled for only one appearance.
The event is being held as Republicans try to defend narrow congressional majorities and mobilize voters who supported Trump in the presidential election.
Cabinet officials and candidates join program
The roster includes Republican congressional leaders and members of the Trump administration.
Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are among the scheduled Cabinet speakers. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son, is also expected to address the gathering.
Candidates on the program include Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who is competing against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, and North Carolina Senate nominee Michael Whatley, who faces former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Organizers scheduled approximately 12 hours of programming across the two nights, featuring more than 100 speakers.
Topics include tax cuts, border security, allegations of government fraud and a proposal to prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks.
Iran war absent from announced lineup
The public schedule does not include a segment specifically devoted to the war with Iran.
The conflict has become a significant political issue because of its human and economic effects, including rising oil and gasoline prices. Polling has also shown dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the war.
The absence does not necessarily mean speakers will avoid the subject during their appearances, but it was not listed among the convention’s announced programming themes.
Some Republicans remain in their districts
An Associated Press survey of more than four dozen Republican candidates found that most either planned to skip the convention, had not finalized their plans or did not respond.
Some candidates said previously scheduled commitments would keep them away from Dallas.
“I had stuff already planned in my congressional district or I would be there,” Kentucky Rep. James Comer told NewsNation. “Got a lot going on back in Kentucky, so my time is needed there.”
Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter cited a personal scheduling conflict.
“Well, unfortunately, I have a family obligation, so I won’t be able to be there,” Carter said on Fox Business.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said some members would remain in their districts to campaign but predicted substantial participation from prominent Republicans.
“We’ll parade our stars across the stage,” he said.
Attendance costs concern some members
The price of attending also discouraged some Republicans.
House members were asked to pay $25,000 for convention admission and lodging, according to people familiar with the private arrangements who spoke anonymously.
The House Republican campaign organization distributed another 2,000 tickets, primarily to donors and invited guests. State Republican parties received separate allocations to distribute.
“Per the RNC, this is a ticketed fundraiser and rally, not a traditional national convention,” the Denton County Republican Party wrote in a Facebook post advertising packages ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
The Republican Party of Virginia offered tickets costing between $1,000 and $1,500, excluding accommodations, according to an email reviewed by AP.
More than 100 GOP figures expected
Despite the absences and concerns about cost, more than 100 Republican House members and candidates were expected to attend.
That group includes nearly all candidates belonging to what Republicans call the MAGA Majority class in closely contested congressional districts, according to a person familiar with the event who requested anonymity before its opening.
Matt Beynon, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, said the gathering offers candidates access to donors, reporters and national audiences.
“It’s like any political convention, it’s no different than the traditional RNC,” Beynon said. “Obviously, you’re out of the district, but it’s a really good opportunity to get in front of people” and “talk to the press.”
Perry narrowly won his district in 2024, when Trump was also on the ballot.
Convention competes with NFL games
It remained uncertain how much television coverage the convention would receive.
The two nights coincide with the opening of the NFL season. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play Wednesday, while the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet Thursday in an international game in Australia.
Republican organizers have emphasized digital distribution and social-media engagement in addition to conventional television coverage.
Trump groups increase campaign spending
The convention coincides with increased spending by political organizations aligned with Trump.
Trump’s political organization is supporting a new entity called No Going Back PAC Inc.which began reserving $47 million in advertising across six competitive Senate contests and one House race, according to reporting cited by AP.
The spending comes in addition to a $10 million advertising campaign by the Trump-affiliated MAGA Inc. super PAC supporting Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race.
MAGA Inc. had accumulated a campaign fund of more than $400 million as Republican candidates urged Trump’s political team to deploy more of its resources before Election Day.
Democrats emphasize living costs
Democratic leaders are organizing counterprogramming focused largely on inflation and household expenses.
“The fact that these Republicans are planning a celebration in the middle of an economic crisis — where everyday Americans are drowning because of this high cost of living — is extraordinary,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said at the Capitol.
Democrats have organized midterm conventions in previous election cycles but are not holding a comparable national event this year.
Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said her party would emphasize local campaigning instead.
“They are not focused on the issues that people are struggling with right now, that they’ve created,” DelBene said. “Cost, housing, food, healthcare, childcare, energy costs, gas prices all going up. That’s what we’re talking about on the ground all across the country.”
Americans “are going to continue to see how much they don’t care,” she added. “And we’re gonna be on the ground all across the country with great candidates talking directly to the American people.”
The statements represent the Democratic Party’s criticism of the convention and Republican economic policies.
Control of Congress shapes the stakes
The gathering comes less than two months before the Nov. 3 elections, when voters will decide control of the House and Senate.
Republicans are using Trump’s prominence to encourage participation among his core supporters. At the same time, some candidates in competitive districts are concentrating on local events and messages tailored to their constituencies.
The convention cannot formally determine nominees or party rules in the manner of a presidential-year national convention. Its principal purposes are fundraising, generating media attention and presenting Republican campaign themes before voting begins.
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