Trump to headline both nights of GOP convention in Dallas, leans into Texas Senate race with cash

Trump’s cash-flush super PAC, MAGA Inc., sent $10 million to help Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton win the U.S. Senate seat there.

Published: September 5, 2026 9:55pm

President Donald Trump will give the keynote address Wednesday night at the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas and then close out the political soirée the next day with final remarks, the Republican National Committee announced Saturday night.

Vice President JD Vance will deliver the keynote address on Thursday night as the party showcases its present and future stars ahead of midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.

Trump’s cash-flush super PAC, MAGA Inc., also put down its first major investment in the congressional midterms, sending $10 million Saturday to Texas to help state Attorney General Ken Paxton win the U.S. Senate seat there.

Paxton also will be among the speakers in Dallas along with fellow Texans Gov. Gregg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz.

""This election comes down to one simple choice: lower costs, lower taxes, secure borders, and common sense versus higher taxes, wide open borders, and the radical liberal agenda the Democrat Party has fully embraced,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said. “Republicans are the party of hardworking, patriotic Americans who believe in a fair day's pay, safe streets, secure borders, and a government that gets out of our way and lets Americans win again."

Other luminaries who will be speaking include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gruters and several Cabinet officers, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.

Notably missing from the lineup is Senate Majority Leader John Thune, whom Trump has frequently criticized for failing to move legislation like the Save America Act election integrity bill.

Here’s the full lineup 

Keynote Speakers

  • President Donald J. Trump, Night One Keynote Address and Night Two Closing Remarks
  • Vice President JD Vance, Night Two Keynote Address
  • The Honorable Scott Bessent
  • The Honorable Todd Blanche
  • The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • The Honorable Dr. Mehmet Oz
  • The Honorable Scott Turner
  • Karoline Leavitt
  • Donald Trump Jr.

Republican Leadership

  • Speaker Mike Johnson, 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Senator John Barrasso, Senate Majority Whip
  • Senator Tim Scott, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman
  • Rep. Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader
  • Rep. Tom Emmer, House Majority Whip
  • Rep. Lisa McClain, House Republican Conference Chair
  • Rep. Richard Hudson, NRCC Chair
  • Joe Gruters, Republican National Committee Chairman

Elected Officials

  • Senator Ted Cruz (TX)
  • Senator Jon Husted (OH)
  • Senator Dave McCormick (PA)
  • Governor Greg Abbott (TX)
  • Lt. Governor of Texas Dan Patrick
  • Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton, Candidate for U.S. Senate
  • Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
  • Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10), Candidate for U.S. Senate
  • Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
  • Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19), Candidate for Governor of Florida
  • Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26)
  • Rep. Brian Jack (GA-03)
  • Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17)
  • Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13)
  • Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07)
  • Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)
  • Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03)
  • Mayor Eric Johnson, Mayor of Dallas, TX

Candidates

  • Captain Mike Bouchard, Candidate for U.S. House (MI-10)
  • Laurie Buckhout, Candidate for U.S. House (NC-01)
  • Greg Cunningham, Candidate for U.S. House (NM-02)
  • Jay Feely, Candidate for U.S. House (AZ-01)
  • Eric Flores, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-34)
  • Carlos De La Cruz, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-35)
  • Mike LiPetri, Candidate for U.S. House (NY-03)
  • Derek Merrin, Candidate for U.S. House (OH-09)
  • Marty O'Donnell, Candidate for U.S. House (NV-03)
  • Mike Rogers, Candidate for U.S. Senate (MI)
  • Tano Tijerina, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-28)
  • Michael Whatley, Candidate for U.S. Senate (NC)

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