What to expect from the RNC

By Easton Martin | September 9, 2026

The Republican National Committee convenes in Dallas this week for a midterm national convention, gathering administration officials and congressional contenders at the American Airlines Center to define the GOP’s governing record and rally voters ahead of November.

The two-day convention marks the first time Republicans have ever organized a formal national midterm gathering. Unlike presidential nominating sessions, the Dallas meeting does not conduct delegate balloting or platform votes. Instead, the gathering operates as an arena-sized campaign launchpad designed to protect congressional majorities and mobilize base turnout.

President Donald Trump leads the program with headline addresses on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Party planners adjusted the schedule in recent days to feature the president both nights, ensuring top billing across the two-hour prime-time broadcasts. Vice President JD Vance anchors Thursday night’s programming alongside Trump, while cabinet members and prominent administration figures, including Scott Bessent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Karoline Leavitt, deliver policy presentations from the main stage.

Economic policy, border enforcement, and domestic manufacturing dominate the early sessions. GOP leadership structured the speaking tracks around concrete legislative pitches, specifically promoting federal tax exemptions for tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits. Organizers have paired candidates directly with private citizens, putting factory workers, law enforcement officers, and small business owners on stage to testify about inflation, local crime, and regulatory burdens.

The host city also places high-stakes regional races in the center ring. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, currently the Republican nominee in an aggressive Senate campaign, receives significant speaking time as party leadership works to consolidate state resources and bolster his candidacy.

Tune in to LindellTV for live, on the ground coverage of the convention all week long