Trump Announces GOP to Hold Unprecedented Midterm Convention

In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump announced on September 16, 2025, that the Republican Party will hold a national convention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. This decision marks a significant departure from the traditional practice of convening such events solely during presidential election years.

Historically, both major U.S. political parties have held national conventions primarily during presidential election years to nominate their candidates. However, there have been instances where parties convened during midterm years. For example, in 1978, the Democratic Party held a convention in Memphis after the midterm elections, and in 1982, they held a national gathering in Philadelphia the summer before the midterms.

The decision to hold a midterm convention underscores the Republican Party's strategic efforts to maintain its narrow control of Congress. As of September 2025, Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate compared to the Democrats' 47, and have a 219-213 majority in the House. By organizing a convention ahead of the midterms, the GOP aims to energize its base, showcase legislative achievements, and set the agenda for the upcoming elections.

President Trump's announcement also reflects his proactive approach to the midterms. In May 2025, reports indicated that Trump and his team launched a strategic five-step plan to maintain the Republican Party's majority in the House. This plan includes discouraging GOP retirements, deploying significant financial resources, endorsing incumbents to deter primary challenges, leveraging fundraising capabilities, and aggressively recruiting strong candidates for open swing-district seats.

In response to the Republican Party's plans, reports suggest that Democrats are considering organizing their own convention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. This move aims to highlight their candidates and new leaders, as well as to counter the Republican strategy. The idea has been promoted by Ken Martin, the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, as part of a strategy to regain control of both the House and the Senate.

The decision to hold midterm conventions by both parties could lead to increased political engagement and voter mobilization. Such events provide platforms to address key issues, present policy agendas, and galvanize support. However, they also risk deepening partisan divides and intensifying the political climate, especially if the conventions focus heavily on polarizing topics.

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the political landscape is set to witness a series of strategic maneuvers by both parties. The effectiveness of these midterm conventions in influencing voter sentiment and election outcomes remains to be seen.