ABSTRACT

Republicans convened in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday for an unprecedented midterm-year national convention designed to mobilize voters ahead of November elections in which the party risks losing control of the House and faces pressure to retain the Senate. The two-day event, informally called "Trumpapalooza," featured President Donald Trump speaking both nights alongside Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet members, and other party figures. The gathering represents the first Republican national convention held specifically for a midterm election cycle.

CT Mirror

Republicans hold first midterm convention centered on Trump ahead of November elections

Sep 9, 2026, 5:00 AM

Context

Republicans are attempting to persuade voters that Trump should be treated as effectively on the ballot despite the president not running in November. Trump has stated at rallies that supporters should "pretend" he is on the ballot and vote accordingly. The convention was designed as a two-night television rally touting Trump's record and Republican candidates, with over 100 House members and candidates expected to attend and more than 50 speakers or presentations scheduled each night.

Trump's approval rating presents a significant challenge for the party's strategy. One source reported his approval rating at approximately 38%, another at 33%, and a third cited low to mid-30s polling. According to one source, approval ratings in that range are historically associated with poor midterm performance for the party in power. Trump faces headwinds including dissatisfaction over an ongoing war with Iran that has lasted several months and cost American lives, along with rising costs including gasoline prices and inflation.

Some Republicans in competitive races chose not to attend. Multiple sources reported that numerous lawmakers in close re-election battles stayed home to campaign in their districts rather than spend time at the convention. According to one source, only about 100 lawmakers and candidates were expected to attend despite the full convention programming. Several specific absences were noted: vulnerable members in competitive races including those in Michigan and Iowa were reported absent, and Connecticut's gubernatorial nominee and other state candidates opted not to attend.

Attendance and enthusiasm indicators suggested lower-than-expected participation. One source reported that the RNC initially announced a lottery system for public ticket applications but later began instantly granting access to all applicants days before the event, suggesting the venue was not at full capacity. Another source noted that some vulnerable Republicans risked the potential ire of the president by avoiding the event due to his unpopularity.

Financial barriers affected participation. Multiple sources reported that House Republicans were being asked to donate at least $25,000 for tickets and lodging. Additional fundraising opportunities were priced significantly higher, with Trump roundtables at $250,000 per person and presidential photographs at $88,600. One source noted that some states were charging five-figure ranges for tickets, though Connecticut was able to keep pricing relatively reasonable.

The convention's timing created additional obstacles. One source noted that the event coincided with the opening games of the NFL season, potentially competing for viewership. Another source mentioned the convention occurred the week after Labor Day Weekend and during the week of the 25th anniversary of September 11 terrorist attacks, with Northeast states sending students back to school later than other regions.

Vice President JD Vance delivered a keynote address that some observers viewed as positioning him for potential future leadership. Multiple sources noted that Vance's address could serve as an early audition for 2028 and indicated his status as a potential heir to Trump's political movement. One source reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, cited as Vance's leading rival for a potential 2028 Republican presidential nomination, was not scheduled to speak and was in South America during the convention.

Behind-the-scenes discussions about the party's future direction were expected despite public messaging focused on Trump. Party officials acknowledged that discussions about the post-Trump party would occur in private conversations among donors, strategists, and lawmakers. One source quoted a Republican National Committeewoman saying such conversations had been ongoing for months, with people divided over the party's direction and the bench of potential leaders.

All Perspectives

Republican National Committee and party organizers: The RNC chairman stated the program would attempt to demonstrate how Republicans are "lowering costs, securing our border, making our communities safer, and putting American workers and families first." Party officials acknowledged that discussions about the party's future direction would occur in behind-the-scenes conversations among donors, strategists and lawmakers, while the convention itself focused on Trump. Connecticut Republican Party chairman Ben Proto said the convention would be "a net positive" for Republicans and candidates, calling it "something different, it's something new, it's something exciting" with "a great risk-reward opportunity."

JD Vance and Trump-aligned Republicans: Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to deliver a keynote address. Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec stated that Republicans were engaged in a tug-of-war between those seeking to push further toward nationalist-populist politics championed by Vance and those favoring traditional conservatism, characterizing the under-40 Republican crowd as "solidly in the nationalist-populist camp" and "not interested in going back to the Bush era."

Moderate and traditional Republicans: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described as a more conventional Republican politician and foreign-policy hawk, was not scheduled to speak at the convention. According to one source's characterization, Rubio might seek to soften tariffs, ease tensions with allies, and temper some of Trump's harder-edged policies including on immigration, in contrast to Vance's approach. Senator Ted Cruz told media that Republicans were not unified behind Vance and that the party was headed for a broader debate over its direction and priorities.

Republican policy analysts and academics: Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of the conservative think tank American Compass, stated: "I have always thought of it as you have a Trump era, and then there is going to be this huge debate about what comes next," arguing that while Trump remade the party, his policies never represented a consistent governing philosophy. Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington University, said the two potential successors could steer the party in different directions. Matthew Green, a politics professor at Catholic University of America, stated that many Trump supporters "only vote when he's on the ballot" and are "diehard Trump voters" rather than Republican voters, making it logical to feature Trump to mobilize them, but expressed skepticism that this approach could overcome Trump's broader weakness in approval ratings.

Democratic Party responses: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joined a Democratic event and accused Republicans of "bootlicking" while alleging that Trump's efforts to enact restrictions on mail-in voting amount to a promise to end fair elections. Pritzker stated: "If Democrats don't win, if they don't win in this election, we may not have other elections. Or certainly we're going to have future elections, every single one of which will be rigged." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said a contingent of Democrats would "counter the falsehoods and extremism" on display at the convention.

Republican party officials on party evolution: Amy Kremer, a Republican National Committeewoman from Georgia, stated: "Those conversations are absolutely happening. I mean, they've been happening for a while now amongst the base, because people are divided, and we have a very deep bench" and "MAGA has changed the Republican Party, and we're not going back." Republicans interviewed for reporting said the question is which elements of Trumpism should endure, with divisions emerging over tariffs, foreign intervention and the scope of his populist agenda.

Where sources differ

Trump's approval rating varies across sources: The Straits Times reports it at 'record low' levels without specific numbers, The Guardian US cites approximately 38%, and Euronews reports 33% in recent polling and references low to mid-30s in other polling.

Gaps & Unknowns

The specific content or messaging of Vice President Vance's keynote address is not detailed in any source.
No direct statement or position from Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding his absence from the convention or his views on the party's future direction is provided.
The specific policy positions or statements from other Cabinet members scheduled to speak (Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) are not included.
No direct response or comment from Trump himself regarding concerns about his unpopularity or its impact on Republican electoral chances is provided, beyond his statement asking supporters to "pretend" he is on the ballot.
The sources do not establish what specific topics or controversies some Republicans privately hoped Trump would avoid discussing at the convention.
No detailed explanation is provided for why Democrats experimented with midterm conventions in the 1970s and 1980s or how those differed from this 2024 Republican convention.
The sources do not specify which particular House and Senate races were considered most competitive or central to the party's midterm strategy.

Sources & Further Reading

The Straits Times — original — by The Straits Times
The Guardian US — by Adam Gabbatt
CT Mirror — by Lisa Hagen
Euronews — by Gavin Blackburn

Read the original at The Straits Times

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