Trump and GOP hosting first midterm convention, but notable Republicans plan to skip

With just 55 days until the high-stakes midterm elections, President Donald Trump and Republicans from across the country will descend upon Dallas, Texas, for two nights to support the slate of candidates running this year and to tout the administration's agenda going into November in the first-ever GOP midterm convention.The Republican National Committee said the event will articulate "a clear and bold plan of the work [it] will continue to do on behalf of the hard-working and patriotic Americans after we achieve victory in November.""The message is simple: Americans want strong borders and sound immigration policies, not sanctuary cities and the unspeakable crimes that comes with them," the RNC said in an overview of the convention.Several notable battleground GOP candidates, running in races that will decide which party controls the House and the Senate, are not attending this week's convention, which comes as Trump's popularity is at a low.The two nights will feature several themes and issues, including Trump's signature tax legislation; the administration's actions at the southern border and on immigration; and the economy, including efforts to lower drug prices, according to organizers. The event will also provide a platform for down-ballot Republicans running for office this year to speak at the event, organizers said.President Donald Trump gestures while boarding Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sept. 7, 2026, in Morristown, N.J.Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP PhotoRepublicans have never held a midterm convention before. Democrats held a midterm convention in the 1970s.Trump and Vice President JD Vance will serve as keynote speakers. Trump will give his keynote address on Wednesday -- the first night of the convention, and Vance is set to speak on Thursday. Trump is also scheduled to give closing remarks on the last night of the convention.Many members of Trump's Cabinet are set to serve as keynote speakers -- with speeches coming from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.Several members of GOP congressional leadership are also set to speak at the convention: House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and Sen. Tim Scott, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.Several battleground candidates will also speak, including Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Georgia Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins, North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers.Notable Senate candidates left off the list of speakers include Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, both running in toss-up races that could decide control of the Senate. ABC News has reached out to both Hinson's and Sullivan's campaigns about whether they are planning to attend the convention, but did not get a response back.An exterior view of the American Airlines Center, site of the Midterm Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, September 7, 2026.Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/ShutterstockThe convention comes as Trump faces several headwinds, including record-low approval ratings and multiple exigencies, including the war with Iran and the turmoil with the economy -- as polling shows many Americans continue to struggle and say the cost of goods and living remains high.Popular ReadsA Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week found Trump's approval rating remains at the lowest of either of his two terms, at 33%.Despite the presence of many congressional members, battleground candidates, and administration officials, several notable Republicans will skip the event.First lady Melania Trump will not attend the convention, a White House official told ABC News. That official did not provide a reason for her expected abense. The first lady attended the final night of the Republican National Convention in 2024 when her husband was running his presidential campaign for his second term.Several battleground candidates will also miss the event, including Republican Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Nunn told ABC News that he’ll be working in his district, a toss-up district in the upcoming midterms, during the convention.Roughly 100 House Republican members and candidates are expected to be in Dallas; that is still about half of the House GOP and candidates running this fall for reelection.The convention will also be an opportunity for the Republican National Committee to raise money. In invitations from the RNC sent to donors and obtained by ABC News, Trump will take part in a roundtable for the organization on Wednesday in Dallas, where donors can pay $250,000 per person to join him and an additional $88,600 for a photo opportunity with the president.The RNC is also hosting another roundtable featuring Vance on Thursday where attendees will pay $75,000 to participate and an additional $35,000 for a photo opportunity.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 3, 2026, in Washington.Mariam Zuhaib/AP PhotoThe convention is taking place at the same time as the first two NFL games of the season and near the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, leading to some concern among Republicans over how many potential voters will tune in.Although Democrats decided not to hold their own convention, they will host events in Texas and other parts of the country to counter the GOP's midterm convention.Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that a delegation of House Democratic members will travel to Dallas to highlight the party's efforts to tackle affordability in the country.Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, whose race against Paxton is now considered a toss-up, announced his "Love Thy Neighbor" grocery drive as counterprogramming to the Republican midterm convention. The statewide volunteer effort aims to support North Texans struggling to afford groceries with volunteers sort and package groceries just down the road from where the convention will be held.