What’s up with this?
President Donald Trump is preparing to take center stage at a major Republican midterm convention in Dallas, but a surprising number of GOP lawmakers reportedly won’t be there.
With control of Congress at stake in the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans are under pressure to energize conservative voters, win over independents and defend vulnerable House seats across the country.
Trump’s Sept. 9-10 convention is supposed to help accomplish that goal.
Instead, the gathering is generating controversy inside the Republican Party, as dozens of House Republicans reportedly plan to skip the event.
45 House Republicans Reportedly Plan to Skip Convention
Politico surveyed more than 70 Republican House members about their plans for the two-day Dallas gathering.
According to the outlet, 45 said they intend to skip it.
The reasons vary.
Some Republicans believe their time would be better spent campaigning back home, particularly with Election Day approaching and competitive congressional races potentially determining which party controls the House.
Others have reportedly expressed frustration with the organization and cost of attending the convention.
One Republican lawmaker, speaking anonymously to Politico, described the event as a poor use of valuable campaign time and criticized how preparations have been handled.
The lawmaker also raised a larger strategic concern for the GOP: Republicans already have strong support among their most loyal voters, meaning candidates in competitive races may need to devote more attention to independents and undecided Americans.
That calculation could put some Republican candidates in an uncomfortable position.
Trump remains the undisputed leader of the Republican Party and has tremendous influence with conservative voters. But candidates in closely divided districts must also appeal to Americans who do not reliably vote Republican.
Trump Putting Himself at Center of 2026 Midterms
Trump is expected to deliver the convention’s closing address on Sept. 10, giving him a major opportunity to make the case for keeping Republicans in control of Congress.
The president has already encouraged supporters to approach the midterm elections as though he were personally on the ballot.
That strategy puts Trump’s record and America First agenda at the heart of the Republican campaign.
For many conservatives, that could be exactly what is needed to generate enthusiasm and increase voter turnout.
Republicans can point to issues such as border security, taxes and prescription drug costs while arguing that GOP control of Congress is necessary to continue advancing Trump’s agenda.
But vulnerable Republicans face a different political reality.
They need Trump’s supporters to turn out while simultaneously winning enough independent voters to survive competitive races.
Swing-District Republican Staying Home
Michigan Republican Rep. Tom Barrett is among those planning to skip the convention.
Barrett is fighting for reelection in a competitive district and appears determined to spend the crucial final weeks of the campaign focused on voters back home.
He told Politico that while he has no control over what Trump chooses to discuss at the convention, he does have control over where he spends his own time.
The decision illustrates the difficult balancing act facing Republicans in battleground districts.
Staying away from Dallas does not necessarily represent opposition to Trump.
For candidates in tight races, two days spent at a national political gathering are two days they cannot spend meeting constituents, holding campaign events and addressing issues affecting voters in their districts.
And with control of the House potentially coming down to a handful of competitive races, every day matters.
Convention Costs Spark Complaints
Another issue generating frustration is money.
Reports have indicated that House Republicans have faced requests for significant financial contributions connected to convention attendance, with some packages reportedly starting at $25,000.
That has raised eyebrows among lawmakers who are already raising and spending millions of dollars to defend Republican congressional seats.
One unnamed Republican told Politico that he already had little interest in attending and said the financial requirement made his decision even easier.
Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett also cited the expense while saying he remained uncertain about whether he would make the trip to Dallas.
For Republicans locked in difficult races, the calculation is straightforward: Campaign money spent on convention access cannot be spent on television advertisements, voter outreach, staff or other efforts back home.
Republicans Still See Major Opportunity
Despite the criticism, Republican National Committee officials are pushing back against the idea that the convention is struggling.
RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre said enthusiasm surrounding the gathering has been substantial, with Republicans interested in attending, participating and speaking at the event.
Party officials see the convention as an opportunity to showcase Trump’s America First agenda and remind voters what Republicans say they have accomplished.
The GOP is expected to emphasize issues that directly affect American families, including taxes, prescription drug prices and border security.
Republican leaders hope the convention can also provide an enthusiasm boost heading into the final stretch before the November election.
That could prove important.
Midterm elections often depend heavily on which party can motivate its supporters to actually show up and vote.
Trump has repeatedly demonstrated an unusual ability to generate enthusiasm among Republican voters, and putting him at the center of the Dallas convention could help translate that enthusiasm into turnout.
Republicans Face a Midterm Balancing Act
The controversy surrounding the convention exposes a fundamental challenge for the Republican Party in 2026.
Trump wants the election to be a referendum on his presidency.
Many conservative voters may welcome that approach.
But individual Republican candidates must make decisions based on the political realities of their own states and congressional districts.
A Republican running in a deeply conservative district has far more freedom to campaign alongside Trump than someone fighting for independents in a closely divided suburban district.
That explains why the absence of some lawmakers should not automatically be interpreted as a revolt against the president.
For many candidates, it may simply be political strategy.
Still, the optics could be difficult for Republican leaders.
A national convention is normally intended to project strength, enthusiasm and party unity. Reports that dozens of GOP lawmakers plan to stay away risk creating the opposite impression just weeks before voters decide control of Congress.
Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher for Trump and Republicans
The November midterms will determine whether Republicans can maintain the congressional power needed to advance Trump’s agenda during the remainder of his term.
Losing either chamber could dramatically change the political landscape in Washington.
A Democratic-controlled House or Senate could make it more difficult for Trump to advance legislation and could trigger a new wave of partisan investigations and confrontations with the White House.
Republicans therefore have enormous incentives to keep their voters energized.
The question is whether the Dallas convention will accomplish that goal—or become an unnecessary distraction at precisely the wrong moment.
Trump and Republican organizers are betting that a major national gathering will remind conservatives what is at stake and motivate them to vote.
Some GOP lawmakers clearly believe their time and campaign resources are better spent elsewhere.
That disagreement doesn’t necessarily mean Republicans are abandoning Trump.
But with dozens reportedly planning to stay home, it does reveal the difficult political decisions Republicans are making as the battle for control of Congress enters its most important stretch.
For Trump, the convention will provide a major national stage to rally the Republican base around his record and America First agenda.
For vulnerable Republicans, however, the voters who matter most may be hundreds of miles away from Dallas.