Here’s what was learned.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune will be noticeably absent from the speaker lineup when Republicans gather in Dallas for President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated 2026 midterm convention.
But Thune isn’t skipping the event.
The South Dakota Republican is expected to attend the convention and help GOP candidates with fundraising efforts — even as House Speaker Mike Johnson and numerous other prominent Republicans take the stage.
The unusual arrangement is drawing attention because Thune is the highest-ranking Republican in the Senate and has not always seen eye to eye with Trump over the party’s legislative strategy.
There is currently no public evidence that Trump personally ordered Thune removed or banned from speaking. What has been confirmed is that Thune does not have a speaking slot and plans to spend his time assisting Republican candidates and participating in other events.
That distinction could become an important subplot as Republicans descend on Dallas ahead of November’s crucial midterm elections.
John Thune Left Off GOP Convention Speaker List
Thune’s absence from the stage stands out considering his position in Washington.
As Senate majority leader, Thune plays a central role in advancing Trump’s legislative agenda through Congress. Yet while other congressional leaders will address convention attendees, Thune will apparently remain behind the scenes.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is among those receiving a prominent speaking role.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, are also among the Republican figures scheduled to speak.
Thune, meanwhile, is expected to focus heavily on helping Republican candidates raise money.
A source familiar with his plans has said the Senate leader is allowing other Republicans to have their opportunity in the spotlight.
Trump and Thune Have Clashed Over GOP Strategy
The decision is receiving additional scrutiny because Trump and Thune have disagreed over major Republican priorities.
One significant point of contention has involved election legislation and Senate procedure.
Trump has pushed congressional Republicans to advance legislation requiring voter identification and other changes to federal election law. He has also pressured Senate Republicans to eliminate or modify the filibuster when the rule stands in the way of legislation he supports.
Thune has resisted eliminating the Senate’s longstanding 60-vote threshold for most legislation.
Those disagreements provide political context for Thune’s absence from the convention stage.
However, there is no confirmed evidence that those disagreements caused Thune to be excluded from the speaking lineup.
Thune’s decision to attend the convention and raise money for Republican candidates also indicates that he remains actively involved in the GOP’s midterm effort.
Trump Takes Center Stage in Dallas
There will be little doubt about who commands the spotlight at the Republican gathering.
Trump is scheduled to speak on both nights of the September 9-10 convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Vice President JD Vance will also deliver a major address.
The event is unusual because national political conventions are traditionally associated with presidential election years. Republicans are instead attempting to bring the energy and attention of a presidential convention into a midterm election.
The goal is to energize Republican voters before the November 3 elections, when control of the House and Senate will be at stake.
Trump is not on the ballot this year, making Republican turnout a major concern for party leaders.
Major Trump Administration Officials Join Lineup
Republicans are bringing some of the Trump administration’s most recognizable officials to Dallas.
The convention lineup includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Dr. Mehmet Oz and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner are also expected to participate.
Donald Trump Jr. is among the other prominent names appearing at the gathering.
Congressional Republican leaders and candidates will round out the program as the party attempts to showcase its agenda and motivate supporters heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Republican Leaders Rally Ahead of Midterm Elections
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer are among the congressional Republicans expected to participate.
The lineup also includes several prominent Republican senators and House members.
For the GOP, the Dallas convention represents an opportunity to put national attention on Republican candidates while reminding Trump supporters that control of Congress could depend on whether they return to the polls in November.
That challenge is particularly significant during a midterm election.
Presidential elections typically generate considerably more attention, while midterm turnout can look very different.
Republicans hope Trump’s prominent role in Dallas will help recreate some of the enthusiasm surrounding his presidential campaigns.
GOP Convention Doubles as Major Fundraising Event
Speeches are only part of what Republicans have planned.
Fundraising is expected to be a major component of the Dallas gathering.
Candidates, Republican officials and wealthy donors will have opportunities to meet with some of the most powerful people in the party.
Some of the reported prices associated with the convention have already attracted attention.
Republican candidates in competitive races were reportedly asked to contribute $25,000 to attend convention activities.
Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee publicly described the price as “pretty steep.”
Delegates are facing expenses of their own.
Published reports indicate that New York Republicans seeking floor access were asked to pay $4,000, while alternate delegates faced costs of $2,500.
Those numbers pale in comparison with some of the reported prices for exclusive donor events.
Trump Fundraiser Reportedly Reaches $250,000
Major Republican donors hoping for more personal access to Trump could pay substantially more.
A fundraising event involving the president reportedly includes packages costing as much as $250,000.
A photograph with Trump has reportedly been priced at $88,600 per person.
Vance is scheduled to participate in another high-dollar event, where reported prices include $75,000 for a roundtable and $35,000 for a photograph with the vice president.
The enormous figures illustrate the financial stakes surrounding the 2026 midterm elections.
House and Senate campaigns can cost millions of dollars, particularly in closely divided states and congressional districts.
With control of Congress at stake, Republicans are using the Dallas gathering not only to energize voters but also to build the financial resources needed for the final campaign push.
Why the 2026 GOP Convention Is Different
Republicans have never held a national midterm convention quite like this one.
Traditional national conventions take place during presidential election years, when delegates formally nominate the party’s candidates and showcase its platform.
There is no presidential nominee to select in Dallas.
Instead, the event is designed largely around energizing Republicans, promoting candidates and highlighting Trump’s record and political agenda.
Trump originally proposed the idea of holding a midterm convention, and Republicans ultimately turned that proposal into a massive two-day gathering.
The president’s decision to address attendees on both nights further demonstrates his central role.
Control of Congress Is on the Line
The political stakes extend far beyond Dallas.
Voters will determine control of Congress on November 3, and the results could have a major impact on the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Republicans are defending their congressional majorities while Democrats are seeking to gain enough seats to take control.
That makes voter turnout especially important.
The Dallas convention gives Republicans a national platform to make their case before the campaign enters its final stretch.
It also gives candidates access to donors, activists and national Republican figures who could help their campaigns.
Thune’s Absence From Stage Raises Questions
Against that backdrop, Thune’s missing speaking slot is difficult to overlook.
The Senate majority leader is one of the most powerful elected Republicans in the country. Under ordinary circumstances, someone holding that position would appear to be a natural choice for a major convention address.
Instead, Johnson and numerous other Republican figures will take the stage while Thune concentrates on fundraising and helping candidates elsewhere in Dallas.
Whether there is a deeper political meaning behind the arrangement remains unclear.
Trump and Thune have disagreed over strategy, but neither those disagreements nor the president have been publicly identified as the reason Thune lacks a speaking role.
What is clear is that Thune will be at the Republican convention — just not behind the podium.
And as Republicans prepare for a midterm election that could determine the direction of Trump’s final two years in office, the unusual arrangement gives the Dallas gathering another political storyline to watch.