Trump Proposes Unconventional Republican National Convention Before 2026 Midterms

Former U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea Thursday of holding an unusual Republican National Convention before the 2026 midterm elections. "I am thinking about suggesting that the Republican Party have a National Convention prior to the Midterms," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. "Hasn’t been done before. Stay Tuned!"

The party of the incumbent president often fares poorly in midterm elections. Trump is seeking to avoid that fate, while also pushing for a sweeping overhaul of the federal government. A Quinnipiac University poll released this week revealed that just 37% of Americans approve of Trump's performance as president, while 55% of respondents disapproved.

Typically, the Democratic and Republican parties each hold their presidential nominating conventions every four years to formally nominate their candidates for president. No similar events take place before congressional elections, as candidates are determined through primary elections. However, these events usually attract widespread media attention, and a convention could offer an opportunity for the Republican Party to promote their agenda as voters begin to weigh their options.

Trump’s political team is seeking ways to energize voters who have historically only turned out when his name is on the ballot. Next year's elections will determine control of both houses of Congress for the second half of his potential second term.

The battle for control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections is expected to be fierce. The Cook Political Report, a respected independent election analysis organization in the U.S., forecasts that Democrats have 202 seats rated as leaning toward, likely, or solid wins, while Republicans have 215 seats in those categories.

Winning 218 seats is enough to control the House. In the Senate, Republicans currently hold a three-seat advantage.

Just the day before, U.S. media outlet Axios reported that Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin had also discussed the possibility of holding a Democratic convention for 2026. The idea sparked some discussions on the sidelines of the Democratic National Committee meeting in Minneapolis this week, but did not receive widespread support, in part because it could be prohibitively expensive for already stretched Democratic finances.

“We’re considering multiple options for next year, including hosting a large rally before the midterms,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Abhi Rahman. He called it an “opportunity to showcase our excellent candidates from top to bottom.”

Democrats have already scored victories in several low-turnout special elections this year. But they are still struggling to remind voters of the importance of next year’s midterm elections in order to create checks on Trump in Washington.

Uncertainty remains on both sides, but should both parties actually hold such “showdown conventions,” these events would not only become rallying points for midterm elections but also important platforms for aspiring politicians seeking to participate in the 2028 presidential race.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kiersten Pels, responding to Trump's post, said, “President Trump is inspiring our party with bold, innovative ideas, allowing us to continue on the road to victory.”

House Republican leaders also immediately responded to Trump’s suggestion. “Let’s do it, Mr. President!” wrote Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana on X, adding three American flag emojis for emphasis.

Trump in recent weeks has urged governors and legislators in Republican-controlled states, including Texas and Indiana, to push for redistricting to increase the number of seats favoring Republican candidates. Some Democratic officials, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have vowed to take the same steps in their states.