Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-10 · by Lisa Mascaro And Michelle L. Price The Associated Press
Story summary
Senate Majority Leader John Thune skipped his scheduled speech at the Republican Party's midterm convention in Texas, opting instead to attend a fundraiser for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. This was notable because Thune had initially supported incumbent Senator Cruz, but is now supporting Paxton.
In related news, First Lady Melania Trump will not be attending her husband's midterm convention in Dallas next week, a significant absence as President Donald Trump attempts to boost momentum for the party ahead of November's elections. At least 45 GOP lawmakers have also told Politico that they won't attend the convention.
The Republican National Committee has scheduled a packed two-day convention, with a total of 109 items and speakers across both nights. Vice President JD Vance will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, while Senator Ted Cruz will speak earlier in the day. The convention is seen as an opportunity for Republicans to rally their base and promote their candidates.
However, some Republicans have expressed concerns that the convention may not be effective in boosting enthusiasm for the party. Many lawmakers, including those facing tight races, are skipping the event or balking at demands that they pony up for access.
Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing a counterprogramming blitz to the GOP's midterm convention. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has announced plans to send four members of his Democratic caucus to Texas to engage with voters and highlight the party's agenda for 2026.
The Republican Party is also trying to win over Hispanic voters at the convention, with a focus on issues such as immigration and border security. However, the party's efforts may be hampered by President Trump's low approval ratings among Hispanic voters.
New York's delegation to the GOP midterm convention has been downgraded from prime seating in 2024 and 2016, with some members expressing surprise at the move. However, the state's Republican leaders are trying to spin the situation positively, with Rep. Mike Lawler set to be a featured speaker.
Written for “RNC Midterm Convention” on 2026-09-10,
grounded in this article and the 37 other(s) covering the same event.
Republicans at their midterm convention know that history is not on their side this election season, but they are counting on President Donald Trump and his two-day extravaganza in Dallas to rally voters to protect their House and Senate majorities.
asserted
they → know → majorities
They spent the first night denouncing Democrats as extremists before Trump capped Wednesday with a speech saying the choice this election is “very, very simple” and making the outlandish promise of $5,000 to each American adult, if his party wins.
asserted
party → spend → adult
Such a proposal could cost more than $1 trillion at a time when the nation faces a record $40 trillion debt.
uncertain
nation → cost → debt
Thursday’s lineup is expected to feature many of the same themes and includes a keynote from Vice President JD Vance and closing remarks from Trump.
asserted
lineup → expect → Trump
Republicans are trying to overcome voters’ concerns about the economy and the war in Iran, and many still see solidarity with Trump as their best shot at winning in November despite the president’s low approval ratings.
asserted
many → try → ratings
“The midterms are not supposed to be won by the sitting president,” Trump acknowledged during a lengthy primetime speech.
But he predicted this one will be “something very special,” and encouraged voters to cast their ballots as if they were voting for him.
asserted
they → suppose → him
“Pretend I’m on the ballot,” he said.
asserted
he → pretend → ballot
A roster of Republican lawmakers, some of them the most electorally endangered in the country, took their turns Wednesday echoing warnings that tax cuts and immigration enforcement are all at risk if Democrats win.
asserted
Democrats → endanger → risk
Many others skipped the confab altogether, and the party is competing for attention with another American institution, the National Football League, which started its season this week.
asserted
which → skip → season
Democrats, holding their own events around the city, portrayed the Republicans as out of touch with voters’ concerns about high prices and the ethics of the Trump administration.
asserted
Democrats → hold → administration
“We want to ensure that people can actually live their lives, be able to work, have access to healthcare,” said Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, “and the president’s more interested in sending bizarre, deranged social media posts and having his party in Dallas.”
asserted
president → want → Dallas
They’re showcasing accomplishments and warning of what’s to come
The second night of the convention is expected to delve deeply into what House Speaker Mike Johnson calls the “Contrast with America,” as Republicans showcase what they call their “Big Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and spending cuts, and warn of a future if Democrats take control.
asserted
Democrats → showcase → control
The campaign slogan is a throwback to an earlier era, when another Republican leader, Newt Gingrich, offered a Contract with America.
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leader → offer → America
This time, rather than presenting a detailed list of priorities, Republicans are drawing a contrast with the Democrats, who they contend are too far left and would focus on investigating the Trump administration.
asserted
they → present → administration
“This is what we’re talking about when we say common sense versus crazy communists,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., warning of impeachments ahead if Republicans stay home.
asserted
Republicans → talk → impeachments
“Are you going to let that happen?” he asked.
asserted
he → go → ?
Many in the crowd, filled with MAGA gear and cowboy hats, roared back, “No!”
asserted
Many → fill → gear
Trump did mention a proposal to cut credit card swipe fees at the end of his speech, which neared the two-hour mark, but he offered few other details.
asserted
he → mention → details
Republicans have been quick to portray all Democrats as in line with their most liberal candidates, particularly a new generation, some backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
asserted
Republicans → portray → America
Still, one Democrat, outlier Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, joined by video address, saying he would always reject extremes.
asserted
he → join → extremes
Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House GOP Whip, roused the crowd by angrily name-checking incumbent Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from Minneapolis and Senate Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, along with New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani, three of the nation’s most prominent Muslim politicians.
asserted
Emmer → rouse → politicians
“If you’re not happy here, then get the hell out,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → hell
Trump hopes the convention will help GOP buck historical trends
asserted
GOP → hop → trends
The margins in Congress are expected to be narrow, with a few seats in a shrunken map of competitive races determining the outcome.
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seats → expect → outcome
Presidents past have acknowledged their midterm losses — Barack Obama called his 2010 setbacks a “shellacking,” George W. Bush labeled his a “thumping.”
asserted
Bush → acknowledge → his
But Trump often refuses to accept defeat, including his false claims that he, rather than Joe Biden, won the 2020 election.
uncertain
he → refuse → election
One of the many people he pardoned for their actions in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, former Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, appeared at the convention.
asserted
he → pardon → convention
Trump on Wednesday said that in this election, “all that matters is that we are united.”
asserted
we → say → election
He predicted that “the great American majority is going to stand up and continue to Make America Great Again.
asserted
America → predict → ?
And we will make our voices heard, perhaps like never before.”
asserted
voices → make → ?
___
Mascaro reported from Washington.
asserted
Mascaro → report → Washington
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont and Jamie Stengle in Dallas, Will Weissert, Steven Sloan, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, JJ Cooper in Phoenix, Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
asserted
Colvin → contribute → report
