Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters said Sunday the party would hold a midterm convention before the general election, as President Trump outlined last September. The event is designed to rally voters behind Republican candidates in November.
Gruters appeared on NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday" and said the RNC has authorization from its members to organize the gathering but details remain under development. He did not provide a date or location during the interview.
What the Right Is Saying
Gruters said Trump would be highlighted throughout the midterm convention and emphasized the president's ability to turn out low-propensity voters. "We have a president that's been able to turn out these low propensity voters three different times," Gruters told host Chris Stirewalt. "He will deliver for us this November."
The RNC chairman said Republicans plan to deploy Trump across battleground states in the final weeks before Election Day. "We're going to use the president. We're going to barnstorm the country," he added, noting several races would be competitive.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic National Committee Executive Director Roger Lau said the party will not host another convention until 2028, directing resources toward competitive races instead. "We look forward to celebrating our future nominees on the national stage and highlighting Democrats' commitment to building a better, safer, and more affordable future for our country," DNC Chair Ken Martin wrote in a statement.
Democratic strategists have noted that midterm conventions are uncommon for parties not holding a presidential nomination contest. Some analysts suggest the event reflects Republican confidence heading into November while others view it as an effort to maintain momentum from Trump's victories over three election cycles.
What the Numbers Show
Republicans are targeting Senate seats in Maine and Michigan while defending vulnerable incumbents in Texas and North Carolina. The party holds a narrow House majority that both parties expect could shift in either direction during the midterms.
Midterm conventions have been rare outside presidential election years. The last major midterm convention was held by Democrats in 2022, a gathering that featured President Biden's address to delegates. Historical data from the Congressional Budget Office and past National Election Studies indicate midterm voter turnout typically falls 15 to 20 percentage points below presidential election levels.
The Bottom Line
The RNC is moving ahead with its first standalone midterm convention since 2018, a sign of Republican investment in maintaining control of Congress during an election cycle that historically challenges the sitting president's party. Democrats are taking a different approach, forgoing a national gathering to concentrate resources on ground operations in competitive districts. The success or failure of Trump's involvement in these races will likely shape both parties' strategies heading into 2028.