The Republican Party is days from staging its first two-day midterm convention in Dallas, but the high-profile lineup it has promoted is still in flux — and several of the candidates the GOP most wants to showcase appear unlikely to attend.
Even so, House Speaker Mike Johnson is pressing ahead with a public push to energize Republicans, urging voters and party faithful to unite behind the GOP before the pivotal November midterm elections.
‘We must win in November to keep fighting for President Trump’s America First agenda. We’re all going to be there together,’ Johnson said, touting expected appearances by Trump, Vance and Republican candidates from around the country.
‘And the best part, we want everyone to be in the room with us as we make history,’ Johnson added, urging supporters to take part in what the party is billing as a landmark event.
So far, however, the response from key figures suggests the party’s call is not being universally answered.
Among those not expected to participate are Michigan Representative John James, who is running for governor, along with Ohio Representative Max Miller and Michigan Representative Tom Barrett, both of whom are seeking re-election.
Meanwhile, preparations for the Dallas convention are unfolding under intense time pressure behind the scenes.
The American Airlines Center could not begin its convention conversion until after a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show wrapped on August 30, giving organizers only a narrow window to get the venue ready.
John Hiller, a Trump aide sent to Dallas as CEO of the convention, acknowledged the frantic preparations.
A curveball was also thrown at the GOP.
A fake website was created by a firm linked to a former operative associated with Barack Obama, according to digital-forensics findings provided to Our News Outlet by a Washington, DC opposition research firm on the condition of anonymity.
The investigators say the site is connected to TaskForce, a creative agency whose website says it was founded in 2010 in the wake of Obama’s HOPE campaign.
TaskForce describes itself as an independent firm and lists clients including Rock the Vote, Amnesty International, the United Nations Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, the MacArthur Foundation and the Obama White House.
Its founder, Yosi Sergant, is a progressive cultural strategist who commissioned Shepard Fairey’s now-famous HOPE poster for Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
The site later linked to the DOJ’s Epstein files.
On Wednesday House Speaker Mike Johnson urged voters to attend the convention less than one week away. ‘We want everyone to be in the room with us as we make history. Go to gopconvention.com’
The American Airlines Center has just days to transform the venue. It could not be transformed for the convention until after a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance ended on August 30
On Wednesday Congressman Mike Lawler confirmed to MS NOW he would be a speaker at the two-day extravaganza
‘We’re building this plane as we fly it,’ Hiller told The Dallas Morning News.
The only public information released was an outline of the issues that will dominate the two-day gathering.
And even the attendees are flying blindly.
But while the convention is billed as a major show of Republican strength ahead of the midterms, some of the party’s most closely watched battleground-state candidates don’t believe showing up is necessary.
Representative John James, will also be missing from the gathering, with his team telling Our News Outlet that as of now, he does not plan to attend.
James is running for governor in one of the country’s most important battleground states — and one Trump won in 2024.
Michigan Representative Tom Barrett shared images of the convention invitation which lays out the price of access for members of Congress, starting at $25,000 and rising to $100,000
Embattled Ohio Representative Max Miller, who is facing domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, is also skipping out on the event
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The Dallas 2026 host committee has raised $45 million in less than a month to help stage the convention, promote Dallas and cover costs associated with the event
Embattled Representative Max Miller, who is facing domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife that he denies, told The New York Times he was invited but is choosing to stay home.
A POLITICO survey of more than 70 Republican candidates and members found that 45 either do not plan to attend or are still weighing whether to go.
Republican strategist David Kochel told Our News Outlet that he would advise candidates in battleground states such as Iowa to stay focused on their home turf.
‘If I were advising an Iowa candidate, I would tell them to keep it local,’ Kochel said.
He described the convention as appearing to be ‘a made-for-TV event’, arguing that only a small share of Iowa voters would pay attention.
‘The voters they need to win over aren’t going to be paying attention to that convention,’ he said.
For many, the choice appears to be between spending two days in Dallas alongside Trump or staying home with the voters who will decide their races.
New Jersey Representative Chris Smith and New York Representative Andrew Garbarino have also said they have commitments connected to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Michigan Representative Tom Barrett told Politico he would rather be in his district.
The invitation to Dallas is not without a price.
The NRCC is asking members to pay $25,000 for its ‘Majority Committee’ package, $50,000 for the ‘Chairman’s Club,’ $75,000 for the ‘MAGA Council’ and $100,000 for the ‘1776 Club.’
The packages include hotel rooms in the NRCC block, tickets to convention programming and access to events including a breakfast with House leadership, political roundtables and the chairman’s welcome reception.
The invitation says only new contributions to a member’s re-election or leadership PAC count toward the packages, with the registration deadline set for August 14.
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville told Our News Outlet in July that he planned to attend.
But his team has since confirmed that he now has campaign events scheduled in Alabama and will not be attending.
Tuberville is running for governor, making his absence another example of a Republican candidate choosing the campaign trail over Trump’s convention.
Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, meanwhile, is planning to attend.
Other prominent Republicans expected in Dallas include Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Senator Jon Husted.
Representative Michael Lawler of New York has also confirmed that he will speak at the convention, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Our News Outlet has also confirmed the attendance of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, Florida Senator Rick Scott and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Trump first announced the convention in June, pitching it as a celebration of his administration’s accomplishments and a rallying point for Republicans ahead of the midterms.
He promised a gathering featuring workers, innovators, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, first responders and job creators along with entertainment and a showcase of his administration’s America First agenda.
And the event is not short on cash. The Dallas 2026 host committee has raised $45 million in under a month to stage the convention and promote the city.
It is co-chaired by Sunoco chairman Ray Washburne and his wife, Heather; Kenny Troutt and his wife, Lisa; and Trent Morse.
Washburne told Reuters organizers expect around 30,000 attendees — roughly 8,000 more than the American Airlines Center can seat. Most of Trump’s Cabinet would come, he said, along with ‘pretty much everyone running in a hot race.’
That promise has yet to materialize. Asked whether any speakers had been confirmed, RNC press secretary Natalie Baldassarre directed Our News Outlet to the GOP’s convention website — which lists an itinerary but no lineup.
The first night is expected to focus on tax relief, health care costs, the border, trade and domestic manufacturing, with workers featured prominently.
The second covers no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security, plus prescription drug prices. The program also includes a tribute to Charlie Kirk and a segment marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with families of first responders.
JD Vance speaks Wednesday night. Trump headlines Thursday.
Missing from the program: any major segment on foreign policy or the war in Iran — one of the heaviest issues facing the administration.
