President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Sept 19) that the Republican Party will hold a convention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, an unusual move since such large-scale
gatherings are typically reserved for presidential election years.
“The Republican Party wants, very badly, a Convention for the 2026 Midterm Election. We will have one at the highest level. It will be both fun, and very productive,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The decision comes as Republicans fight to protect their slim hold on Congress. Currently, the GOP controls the Senate 53–47 and the House 219–213. Losing that majority could severely limit Trump’s ability to push through his legislative priorities.
Democrats, too, are reportedly considering whether to hold their own midterm convention, according to Axios. Both parties are locked in a high-stakes battle over redistricting, which will shape who ultimately controls the House.
With control of Congress hanging by just a few seats, both sides are bracing for what could be one of the most combative midterm election cycles in recent history. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.
