Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-09 · by Jill Colvin The Associated Press
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 are gathering in Dallas on Wednesday for a highly unusual midterm convention, a “Trump-a-Palooza” that will put President Donald Trump at the center of this fall’s midterm elections — whether the candidates running like it or not.
asserted
candidates → gather → it
Many party members, including those facing tight races, are skipping the two-day affair, citing conflicting obligations or balking at demands that they pony up for access.
asserted
they → include → access
Others are hoping an appearance alongside Trump will put them in the national spotlight as they work to turn out his voters without him on the ballot.
asserted
they → hop → ballot
The convention, which is part rally and part fundraiser, comes as Republicans try to boost enthusiasm heading into the midterms’ final stretch despite Trump’s low approval ratings.
asserted
Republicans → come → ratings
Organizers have cast it as “a primetime showcase for President Trump’s success, candidates, and causes that have propelled the 2026 midterms to unprecedented focus.”
asserted
that → cast → focus
Much of the programming will focus on Democrats, trying to cast them as extremists by highlighting the party’s insurgent left wing.
asserted
Much → focus → wing
The lineup features Trump and more Trump
Normal political conventions are held every four years and serve a purpose beyond pomp and circumstance, with parties formally nominating their presidential picks.
asserted
parties → feature → picks
In 2024, Trump used the opportunity to announce JD Vance as his running mate.
asserted
Trump → use → mate
The schedule this week released by organizers makes clear that the convention will be the Trump Show, through and through.
asserted
be → release → organizers
“It’s gonna be a Trump-a-Palooza,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters told Spectrum News.
asserted
Gruters → go → News
The president will be speaking both nights, delivering a keynote address on Wednesday night and speaking again Thursday after Vance to close out the event.
asserted
president → speak → event
He had originally been scheduled for only one speaking slot.
asserted
He → schedule → slot
Also addressing the convention will be members of the Republican congressional leadership and Cabinet members including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
asserted
members → address → Blanche
Candidates who will speak include Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who is running a high-profile race against Abdul El-Sayed, and North Carolina Senate nominee Michael Whatley, who is up against former Gov. Roy Cooper.
asserted
who → speak → Cooper
Organizers have outlined 12 hours of programming over the two nights that will include more than 100 speakers and segments focused on subjects like tax cuts, fraud allegations, border security and a proposed ban on members of Congress trading stocks.
asserted
members → outline → stocks
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said some members of his caucus plan to skip Dallas, preferring to stay home and campaign for reelection, but many of them will make an appearance.
asserted
many → say → appearance
“We’ll parade our stars across the stage,” he said.
asserted
he → parade → stage
Many will be skipping the event
An Associated Press survey of more than four dozen Republican candidates found a majority either planned not to attend, said their plans were to be determined, or ignored requests for comment.
asserted
plans → skip → comment
“I had stuff already planned in my congressional district or I would be there,” Kentucky Rep. James Comer told NewsNation.
asserted
Comer → have → NewsNation
“Got a lot going on back in Kentucky, so my time is needed there.”
asserted
time → get → Kentucky
“Well, unfortunately, I have a family obligation, so I won’t be able to be there,” Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter said on Fox Business.
asserted
Carter → have → Business
Some members balked at high attendance fees.
asserted
members → balk → fees
Republican House members were being asked to pay $25,000 for convention tickets and lodging, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to speak frankly about the private arrangement.
uncertain
members → ask → arrangement
An additional 2,000 tickets were distributed by the House GOP’s campaign arm, largely to donors and others to attend the convention.
asserted
tickets → distribute → convention
Other tickets were allocated to state parties to distribute as they saw fit.
asserted
they → allocate → parties
“Per the RNC, this is a ticketed fundraiser and rally, not a traditional national convention,” the Denton County Republican Party in Texas wrote in a Facebook post, which advertised packages from $5,000 to $20,000.
asserted
which → ticket → 20,000
The Republican Party of Virginia was offering a relative discount of $1,000 to $1,500, not including accommodations, according to an email obtained by the AP.
uncertain
Party → offer → AP
Despite the many no-shows, more than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to be in Dallas, including almost all of the MAGA Majority class of candidates in the most targeted congressional districts, according to a person familiar with the event who requested anonymity before it begins.
uncertain
it → expect → anonymity
“It’s like any political convention, it’s no different than the traditional RNC,” said Matt Beynon, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, who won his district by barely 1 percentage point in 2024 with Trump on the ballot.
asserted
who → ’ → ballot
“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.”
asserted
it → ’re → press
It remains unclear what kind of air time the convention will receive.
uncertain
convention → remain → time
The two nights of programming will coincide with the launch of football season.
asserted
nights → coincide → season
The NFL season is set to kick off Wednesday with a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
asserted
season → set → Seahawks
And on Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will be playing an international game in Australia.
asserted
49ers → play → Australia
Democrats say Republicans are out of touch
asserted
Republicans → say → touch
Democrats, meanwhile, are planning their own counterprogramming.
asserted
Democrats → plan → counterprogramming
“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,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said at the U.S. Capitol.
asserted
Jeffries → plan → Capitol
Democrats have held such midterm conventions in the past but are not doing so this year.
asserted
Democrats → hold → past
Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said she wasn’t worried that her party was missing an opportunity to make its case on a national stage like Republicans.
asserted
party → say → Republicans
“They are not focused on the issues that people are struggling with right now, that they’ve created,” DelBene said.
asserted
DelBene → focus → that
…and 5 more, not listed.
