The postmortems for Republicans’ lackluster results in this month’s election wave in New Jersey, Virginia and beyond are in, and while there are many popular theories, there’s one thing almost everyone agrees on: in the age of President Donald Trumpthings aren’t going well for the GOP if he’s not on the ballot.
The question for Republicans in tough congressional campaigns across the country is how to symbolically get Trump on the ballot, and more importantly, how to get his often reluctant voters to the polls to fill out the ballots.
President Trump could boost Republican turnout in the midterm elections with a Republican convention, writes David Marcus. (Getty Images)
The best way to achieve this goal is an idea Trump himself has put forward, a midterm national Republican convention that showcases the party’s performance under Trump’s second term and makes it crystal clear that Americans will vote not just for Congress, but for Trump’s agenda.
The success of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee was a bit overshadowed by assassination attempts and top-of-the-ticket shakeups, but it is widely and rightly regarded as one of the best ever performed, and it made a difference.
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The RNC wasn’t just excellent prime-time television showcasing the Trump GOP’s priorities, it was an even better live event on the grounds, cornhole courts and bars and restaurants creating a festive, even joyful atmosphere.
This live-event feeling could be enhanced by satellite parties, even if the main convention is in Philadelphia for America’s 250th birthday, or in Chicago, to celebrate the birth of the Republican Party. Each city and town could have its own smaller version.
Former President Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The power of such live events is something that both President Trump and the late founder share Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirkunderstood intuitively. If the interim convention could be part Trump rally, part TPUSA party, well, that’s a powerful combination.
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The main reason why a midterm convention is critical is to put Trump at the center of the election. By then, his signature One Big, Beautiful Bill Act will have cut taxes on tips and overtime, some of the trillions in new investments will take root, and Trump will be able to point to these achievements.
One thing conspicuously missing from this most recent off-year election season was any emphasis on the Make America healthy again wing of the Trump movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of Health and Human Services.
That was a mistake; Kennedy’s focus on making sure we don’t poison our children played a huge role in Trump’s victory in 2024. An interim convention could put the issue back on the table, and put MAHA mothers everywhere back in the game.
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This convention would also draw attention to Trump’s anything but miraculous affairs closure of the southern borderand celebrating, rather than denigrating, federal officials working to rid the nation of criminal illegal aliens.
Trump’s message would be simple: “I have two more years to do what you put me in office for, but to do that I need Congress.”
Zohran Mamdani celebrates with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during an election rally at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on October 26. (Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)
If Republicans are really lucky, holding a midterm convention could lead to that Democrats to keep one of their ownan exercise that could not help but betray the deep divisions within their ranks.
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Who would speak at the DNC? Who would be welcome? Socialist mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani or sen. Johannes FettermanD-Pa., or maybe both at the same time yelling at each other about who is a Zionist and who is an anti-Semite. Do you see my point?
Trump may be a showman first and foremost. That can be colored as criticism or judged as a plus, but it cannot be denied. The best chance Republicans have in 2026 is to let him put on his show.
While I’m told there have been behind-the-scenes discussions in preparation for a possible midterm convention, it would still be a tough job. Usually there are four years to plan these things, not six months. But the Trump movement has the infrastructure and resources to make this happen.
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The ‘Trump Rally’ will go down in history, alongside the Lincoln-Douglas debates and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s fireside chats, as one of the most successful forms of political communication that our nation has ever seen. I have a feeling the voters are looking forward to another encore.
Letting Trump be Trump may not only be the best strategy for Republicans in 2026, but it may also be the only one. And hey, if you’re going to lose, why not go out and party?
