Dallas RNC Convention
Republican National Convention Plans Dallas Event Featuring 109 Speakers and Trump Remarks
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The convention lineup includes five Senate candidates in battleground contests: Mike Collins of Georgia, former Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, Michael Whatley of North Carolina, Jon Husted of Ohio and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. It also features House candidates Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin.
2
Other notable speakers include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Donald Trump Jr., Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
3
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is notably absent from the preliminary speaker list, although he is expected to be in Dallas for fundraising; organizers said additional names were still being added. Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt linked the possible omission to Trump’s criticism of Thune over election-security legislation.
4
Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said Blanche is “on the clock 24/7,” arguing that he cannot avoid Hatch Act restrictions by treating partisan activity as personal time; she previously described his campaign appearance as “deeply disgusting.”
5
The convention was announced by Trump in June as an effort to put the 80-year-old president and his political agenda “front and center” before the November elections, as Republicans face a difficult fight to retain control of both chambers of Congress.
The Republican National Committee will hold its first midterm convention in Dallas on September 9-10, featuring 109 speakers across two nights. GOP.com confirmed that President Donald Trump will deliver opening and closing remarks, while Vice President JD Vance headlines the second night. The convention aims to put Trump and his political agenda "front and center" before November's elections, when Republicans face a difficult fight to keep control of Congress.
The speaker lineup includes five Senate candidates in battleground races: Mike Collins of Georgia, former Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, Michael Whatley of North Carolina, Jon Husted of Ohio, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Fox News also confirmed House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear. However, some Republicans are skipping the event over concerns that Trump's low approval ratings could damage vulnerable candidates.
Key Speakers and Notable Absences
House candidates Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, Mike Lawler of New York, and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin will also speak. Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr. are featured on the agenda. GOP.com noted that Senate Majority Leader John Thune is notably absent from the preliminary speaker list, though organizers said additional names were still being added. Thune is expected to attend for fundraising.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine is among Republicans skipping the convention. Fox News reported that vulnerable candidates worry Trump's popularity could hurt their races. The exclusion of Thune has drawn speculation about his relationship with Trump, particularly over election-security legislation that the president previously criticized.
Legal Questions About Attorney General Blanche
Todd Blanche, Trump's attorney general and a former Trump lawyer, has drawn scrutiny for speaking at the partisan convention. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance raised concerns that Blanche is "on the clock 24/7" and cannot escape Hatch Act restrictions by treating partisan activity as personal time. The Hatch Act limits political activity by federal officials during work hours.
Legal experts question whether Blanche's participation violates federal law restricting political activity by government officials. Vance previously described his campaign appearances as "deeply disgusting," raising ongoing concerns about whether his attorney general role and political involvement can coexist without breaking ethics rules.
Convention Aims to Energize Republicans Before Elections
Trump announced the Dallas convention in June as a way to highlight his agenda before November's elections. Republicans face pressure to retain control of both chambers of Congress. The 80-year-old president plans to use the event to energize his political base and support party candidates across competitive races.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
15
Articles
26
Reach
41
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
