The Republican Party is holding a rare midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on September 9 and 10, 2026, ahead of the November 3 midterm vote. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak on both nights, while Vice President JD Vance will close the first night.
The event is not a presidential nominating convention. It is being used as a campaign rally and fundraiser intended to promote Republican candidates, causes and the party’s message before the midterm elections.
Why the party is holding it
Republican National Committee officials have described the Dallas gathering as a first in American political history. Unlike the national conventions held during presidential election cycles, it has no presidential nomination or delegate process because there is no presidential election in 2026.
The convention comes as Republicans try to defend their control of Congress. A loss of either the House or Senate would provide a major check on Trump’s authority during the final two years of his second term. Democrats face an uphill battle for the Senate, while Republican efforts to retain the House are described as long shots.
Key points
- The programme lists 53 items and speakers for night one and 56 for night two.
- Night one is focused on tax cuts, healthcare affordability, immigration, border policy, trade and domestic manufacturing.
- Night two is focused more on affordability and families, including taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security.
- The programme gives relatively little attention to the US-Israel war with Iran and Trump’s tariff policy.
Trump’s role and the questions around turnout
Trump is scheduled to deliver a Wednesday address and the closing keynote on Thursday from 8pm to 9pm Central Time. Vance is scheduled to close the opening night. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for Senate against Democrat James Talarico, is also expected to receive prominent attention after Trump endorsed him over Republican Senator John Cornyn.
It is not yet clear whether the convention will significantly increase Republican turnout. Trump enters the event with an average approval rating of 38 percent in major polls, while some late-August polls cited in the reporting put his approval at 33 percent. The Thursday night programme also conflicts with the opening games of the National Football League season, and the event coincides with memorial events connected to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Why some Republicans are keeping their distance
Republicans in several competitive races are expected to attend, including former Congressman Mike Rogers in Michigan, Ohio Senator Jon Husted and Georgia Congressman Mike Collins. Others have said they will not attend or have cited existing commitments.
Maine Senator Susan Collins is among those not attending. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has said she will remain in her Iowa district, where she faces Democrat Christina Bohannan. Some candidates are concerned that close association with Trump could energise voters opposed to him. Democratic primary turnout has risen in several key states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas and Georgia, while Republican turnout has remained steady.
Democratic response
Left-leaning groups are organising protests, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has announced that four Democratic lawmakers will travel to Dallas for counterprogramming. The Democratic National Committee is not holding its own midterm convention.
What happens next
The convention is scheduled to run from 3pm to 9pm Central Time on both September 9 and 10, with Trump’s closing speech set for Thursday evening.
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