Republicans will gather in Texas on Wednesday for a "midterm convention" as they try to convince Americans to vote for their party despite Donald Trump's low approval rating of 38%. The event aims to focus on issues such as lowering costs and securing the border, but some vulnerable Republicans have opted not to attend due to concerns about associating with Trump. Approximately 100 lawmakers and candidates are expected to attend, while others face pressure from Democratic opponents to distance themselves from the president. With less than two months until the midterm elections, Democrats are increasingly hopeful of picking up Senate seats and potentially gaining control of the House.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump's midterms convention, a two-day event in Dallas, Texas, has become a focus of attention as Republicans gather to boost enthusiasm ahead of the November elections. However, the event is facing challenges, including low attendance from top Republican leaders, with some citing conflicting obligations or concerns about being associated with an unpopular president.
Only 45 GOP lawmakers are expected to attend, and at least 10 have already skipped the convention, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) who has opted out of making a speech but will still be attending. The convention is also notable for its lackluster seating arrangements, with New York's delegation placed in a less prominent location than usual.
The event, dubbed "Trump-a-Palooza," is intended to rally voters around Trump's record despite his low approval ratings. However, some Republicans are expressing concerns about the timing and focus of the convention, which comes as the party faces increasingly grim forecasts for elections that could cost it control of Congress.
In response, Democrats have announced plans to counterprogram the event, sending their top messengers to highlight the affordability crisis and expose what they call "Trump Cartel corruption." The Democratic National Committee has also criticized the Republicans' decision to hold a midterm convention, calling it a "waste of time" when voters are already making up their minds.
Written for “Trump's Midterm Convention” on 2026-09-09,
grounded in this article and the 22 other(s) covering the same event.
Republicans will gather in Texas on Wednesday for a rare “midterm convention”, as they attempt to convince Americans to vote for a party led by a deeply unpopular president who has overseen price increases, inflation, and led the US into an increasingly unpopular war.
asserted
who → gather → war
Donald Trump will dominate the two-day convention, appearing both nights as the GOP works to cling to control of the House of Representatives in November.
asserted
GOP → dominate → November
Republicans plan to put the president at the center of the event, a bold strategy given his approval rating is hovering at about 38%, while accusing the Democratic party as being socialist and out of touch with Americans.
asserted
rating → plan → Americans
However, in a sign of Trump’s toxicity, some vulnerable Republicans have said they won’t attend the Dallas event: risking the potential ire of the president, but avoiding a public association with a deeply unpopular leader.
asserted
they → say → leader
Less than two months out from the midterm elections, the Republican party faces a serious battle to retain its slender control of the House, while Democrats are increasingly hopeful they could pick up Senate seats.
uncertain
they → face → seats
Winning either would put the Democratic party in position to stymie Trump’s aims during his final two years in office.
asserted
Winning → win → office
The convention represents perhaps Republicans’ final opportunity to make a large-scale, high profile pitch to Americans.
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convention → represent → Americans
Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), which is organizing the convention, said the program will attempt to demonstrate how Republicans are “lowering costs, securing our border, making our communities safer, and putting American workers and families first”.
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communities → organize → workers
Whether voters buy that is a different matter, given costs, including gas prices, have risen during Trump’s presidency.
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costs → buy → presidency
Forecasters give Republicans a slim chance of holding onto the House, in particular, and some members of Congress have been keen to distance themselves from the event.
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members → give → event
Several Republican members of Congress said they will skip it entirely.
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they → say → it
Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said a contingent of Democrats would also be in Dallas during the convention to “counter the falsehoods and extremism” on display in American Airlines Center.
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contingent → say → Center
Republicans facing close re-election bids have proved particularly likely to dodge the event, mindful that their Democratic opponents are looking for any opportunity to tie them to Trump.
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opponents → face → Trump
Tom Barrett, facing a close re-election fight in Michigan, and Zach Nunn, locked in a tight race in Iowa, are among those who have said they won’t be in Texas, and Thursday Axios reported that “only about 100 lawmakers and candidates are expected to attend.”
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lawmakers → face → Texas
Multiple reports have suggested that House Republicans were being asked to donate at least $25,000 to the party to get a ticket.
uncertain
Republicans → suggest → ticket
Among the few who are confirmed to be attending are JD Vance and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for Senate in Texas who is polling neck-and-neck with Democrat James Talarico in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.
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that → confirm → 1988
There are signs too, that enthusiasm is low among the rank and file.
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enthusiasm → be → rank
The RNC announced in mid-August that Americans could apply for tickets to attend the event, suggesting that applicants would enter a lottery, and only a lucky few would be granted access.
uncertain
few → announce → access
Yet on Friday, days before the event was due to begin, applications for tickets were instantly being granted on an RNC sign-up page, suggesting the event was not yet at capacity.
Should the attendance be lacklustre, it will be a clear indictment of Trump himself, given RNC marketing materials in the build up had made it clear it was the president’s show.
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it → begin → up
Indeed, some messages billed the event as “Trump’s midterm convention” – ditching the term ‘Republican’ altogether – while every press release has been at pains to stress Trump will be there both nights.
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Trump → bill → pains
Trump himself was bullish about the convention in a podcast interview last week, telling the Texas lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick: “It’s going to be big stuff.”
asserted
It → tell → governor
