The Republican National Committee's midterm convention concludes on Thursday in Dallas, with Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump set to headline the day's events. They will be joined by several prominent congressional figures, as the GOP aims to build momentum for the challenging 2026 election cycle. This second day of the convention follows Trump's keynote address on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, Trump delivered a nearly two-hour keynote, where he highlighted his administration's achievements and outlined the importance of the upcoming elections for Republicans. He also proposed a $5,000 "Trump dividend" for every U.S. adult if Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress. This payment, he stated, would be funded by economic growth and would require recipients to spend the money within the United States.
Other notable speakers on Thursday include incumbent Representatives Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania and Mike Lawler of New York, along with Derek Merrin and Eric Flores, who are challengers to Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Texas, respectively. Each of these races is classified as a "toss-up" by The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Additionally, Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, a highly competitive Senate contest, is also scheduled to speak. House Speaker Mike Johnson was among the speakers on the first night of the convention.
Top Republican congressional leadership figures who spoke on Wednesday included House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso. A number of vulnerable congressional candidates had speaking roles, though a CNBC analysis indicated fewer than half of the candidates in the 45 most competitive House and Senate races were slated to speak. Several Trump administration officials, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., were also scheduled to appear.
