RNC Moves Toward Holding Midterm Convention in 2026

A key vote at its winter meeting comes several months after President Donald Trump announced plans for a nonpresidential year party gathering in 2026.

(L-R) Eric Trump, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) arrive at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is now closer to staging an unconventional political convention.

In a Jan. 23 vote at its winter meeting in California, the RNC approved an amendment permitting it to hold a ceremonial convention between presidential election years, the typical times when parties hold national political conventions.

This one could be in 2026, ahead of contentious midterm elections that will be seen as a referendum on the second Trump presidency.

The amendment that passed lets the RNC “convene a special ceremonial convention outside of a presidential election cycle—including the possibility of an America First midterm convention-style gathering aligned with President [Donald] Trump’s vision for energizing the party this fall,” an RNC spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Epoch Times.

The spokesperson confirmed that the amendment passed unanimously. The spokesperson noted that the ceremonial convention would not include any business.

The vote follows Trump’s talk of organizing such a gathering. He first floated the idea in an August post on Truth Social.

The president’s talk came as the Democratic National Committee discussed the prospect of having its own mini-convention, resurrecting a party tradition from the 1970s.

In September, Trump confirmed that such a convention would take place, writing on Truth Social that the location and date were not yet set in stone.

“It will be quite the event, and very exciting!” Trump wrote.

The RNC spokesperson wrote that the amended rule “will allow the RNC to hold a midterm convention if President Trump chooses to do so.”

In a statement on the vote, RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said that “every RNC member I have talked to is excited about President Trump’s idea to hold a midterm convention.”

“The Republican Party is ready to fight, win, and deliver results for the American people in the midterms,” he said.

On X, JT Bechhoefer, the RNC committeeman for Vermont, wrote that he was “present and voting” at the winter meeting to back the “strategy of a midterm convention” from Trump and Gruters.

The incumbent president’s party typically takes a hit during midterm elections.

High-stakes redistricting battles in Texas, California, and other states could influence the calculus in 2026.

On Jan. 15, the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election analytics newsletter, wrote that 18 House seats had moved toward the Democrats.

As of Jan. 23, users of the prediction market Polymarket collectively assessed that there is a 79 percent chance Democrats reclaim the House in 2026. Bettors there mostly see Republicans maintaining control of the Senate, with the website showing a 66 percent chance of that outcome.

In recent months, the RNC has out-performed the DNC when it comes to fundraising.

Federal elections filings show the RNC raised more than $156 million between Jan. 1, 2025, and Nov. 30, 2025, ending the year with more than $89 million on hand.

The DNC raised just shy of $133 million in 2025. They were left with $12.6 million on hand.