The Republican National Committee has taken a step toward holding what would be its first-ever national convention during a midterm election year. The RNC on Friday approved a change to party rules that would allow Chairman Joe Gruters to convene a convention outside of a presidential election cycle.
National political conventions traditionally take place during presidential election years, when delegates formally nominate the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, Fox News reported.
Republicans are seeking to defend control of the Senate and a slim majority in the House in this year’s midterm elections.
President Donald Trump announced in September that the GOP would hold a convention ahead of the midterms to highlight accomplishments since Republicans regained the White House.
The rule change was first reported by Fox News Digital.
The change was adopted Thursday evening by the RNC’s Rules Committee during the party’s winter meeting in Santa Barbara, California.
The full RNC membership approved the rule change unanimously during the general session on Friday.
A memo obtained by Fox News Digital referenced the possibility of an “America First” midterm convention-style gathering aligned with President Trump’s political vision.
Speaking with reporters Friday, Gruters described the potential event as a “Trump-a-palooza” designed to showcase the administration’s accomplishments.
Gruters said the convention would provide an opportunity to highlight policy achievements and energize Republican voters ahead of the midterms.
Despite the announcement, public opinion polling continues to show President Trump with low approval ratings.
Surveys indicate many Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy and issues related to affordability.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin criticized the proposal in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Trump has historically low approval ratings because he has put America last, sold out working families to hand out favors to billionaires, and made life unaffordable,” Martin said.
The party holding the White House typically faces political headwinds during midterm elections.
Republican leaders hope a high-profile midterm convention would help counter those trends by promoting the president’s record and Republican candidates.
In a separate statement to Fox News Digital, Gruters said the RNC’s winter meeting demonstrated party unity behind Trump.
Gruters said the RNC has focused on expanding fundraising, increasing voter turnout, and protecting ballot integrity ahead of the midterms.
“We’re building the operation needed to protect our majorities and give President Trump a full four-year term with a Republican Congress,” Gruters said.
Details regarding the date and location of the midterm convention have not yet been finalized.
Gruters said additional information will be announced at a later time and will likely come from the president.
A Republican source told Fox News Digital the convention would likely coincide with the RNC’s summer meeting, which is typically held in August.
Democrats may also consider holding a midterm convention.
Sources told Fox News Digital last summer that Martin and other Democratic leaders were quietly exploring the possibility of a convention ahead of the midterm elections.
In October, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he supported President Donald Trump’s idea of holding a presidential-style Republican National Convention before the 2026 midterms.
Johnson said the president called him and mentioned the idea of Republicans holding a massive convention before the midterms to ramp up energy and excitement for the party to help them keep control of the U.S. House and Senate.
Johnson said Republicans won “every aspect” of the 2024 presidential election and predicted that the GOP is poised to “perform well in next year’s midterms.”
“I was in Detroit yesterday morning. He called me 15 minutes before that truth, and he said, ‘Mike, I’ve got a great idea.’ Let’s have it. I’m so excited about this. I said, ‘Mr. President, let’s go.’ Because I think that would be such a great rallying point right before the midterm election for us to tout all the great successes we’ve had to enjoy that,” Johnson said.
