On September 16, President Donald Trump took to TruthSocial to announce a Republican “Midterm Convention” aimed at energizing the party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The event, with its time and place yet to be determined, promises to be a significant and exciting gathering for the Republicans. President Trump wrote, “The Republicans are going to do a Midterm Convention in order to show the great things we have done since the Presidential Election of 2024. Stay tuned, it will be quite the Event, and very exciting!”
While historically, the party in power loses seats in midterm elections, President Trump is seeking to stave off the traditional losses the party in power faces in midterm elections. Recent polling does suggest that the Republicans have a decent shot at defying the traditional losses for the party in power in the 2026 midterm elections. In the Senate, the Republicans scored strong recruits such as former Congressman and 2024 Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan, former Senator Scott Brown in New Hampshire, and Congressman Mike Collins in Georgia. Polling suggests that these three candidates will likely win the respective races. Additionally, the Democrats are going into a slight disadvantage going into the 2026 midterm elections when compared to the Republicans. 13 Democrats won seats in districts carried by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, while only three Republicans won in districts carried by Kamala Harris. This makes the Democrats more overextended in districts that lean towards the Republican Party.
This announcement builds on an idea President Donald Trump first floated last month, when he suggested the Republican Party hold a national convention to highlight the party’s achievements and momentum. “The Republican Party is doing really well,” President Trump stated at the time. “Millions of people have joined us in our quest to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. We won every aspect of the Presidential Election and, based on the great success we are having, are poised to WIN BIG IN THE MIDTERMS.” Trump also praised the Republican Party’s fundraising efforts and his administration’s work to undo policies from the Biden era.
The concept of a midterm convention is novel for the Republican Party, as President Donald Trump noted, “It has never been done before.” The announcement comes amid reports that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is also considering a large-scale gathering to promote its rising stars and midterm candidates. A DNC spokesperson confirmed these plans, stating, “Americans everywhere are fired up and ready to fight back against Trump’s reckless policies — including his budget betrayal that cuts health care and food assistance for millions of people.” The spokesperson added that the DNC is exploring “several options” for 2026, including a potential midterm convention to harness grassroots energy.
In response to President Donald Trump’s announcement, the DNC took a jab, saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” The spokesperson reiterated their plans, noting, “To showcase our tremendous candidates running up and down the ballot and harness the amazing grassroots energy we’re already seeing, several options are on the table for next year, including hosting a midterm convention. The sincerest form of flattery is imitation, and we’re amused the President is following our lead. As both parties gear up for the 2026 midterms, these proposed conventions signal an intensified effort to rally their bases and set the stage for a highly competitive election cycle. With the Republican Party aiming to capitalize on its 2024 momentum and the Democrats pushing back against its policies, the political landscape is heating up.