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Republicans return to American Airlines Center in Dallas on Thursday, Sept. 10, for the second and final day of the 2026 Republican Midterm Convention, with Vice President JD Vance delivering the night’s keynote and President Donald Trump scheduled to return for closing remarks.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
The Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention returns Thursday, Sept. 10, for its second and final day in Dallas, with a lineup featuring Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and other Republican officials and congressional candidates ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Live coverage of Day Two begans at 3 p.m. ET, or 2 p.m. Central, from American Airlines Center. The convention’s second-day program is expected to build throughout the afternoon before Vance delivers the keynote address Thursday night and Trump returns to close the two-day gathering.
Thursday’s program is set to begin with Dallas-area Republican organizer Heather Washburne and First Baptist Dallas Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress among the early speakers. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is scheduled to close the 3 p.m. Central hour.
The following hour is expected to feature Republican congressional candidates Eric Flores and Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, both of whom are running in competitive South Texas districts. Sen. Ted Cruz is scheduled to close that portion of the program.
Abbott is slated to address the convention during the 5 p.m. Central hour, which will also include a tribute to Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, a former Democrat who joined the Republican Party, is scheduled to appear during the 7 p.m. hour before the convention moves toward its nationally featured closing addresses from Vance and Trump.
Vance’s speech will place the vice president in the leading role on the convention’s final night after Trump delivered a nearly two-hour address Wednesday to close Day One. Trump is expected to return after Vance on Thursday to deliver closing remarks.
The two-day Dallas convention is an unusual addition to the political calendar. National parties traditionally hold large conventions during presidential-election years to nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The Republican National Committee instead organized the Sept. 9-10 gathering specifically around the 2026 midterms, bringing national officials, candidates and party supporters together less than two months before Election Day.
Day One placed Trump at the center of the Republican midterm message. During his Wednesday night address, the president urged supporters to approach November’s elections as though he personally were on the ballot.
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump told the crowd.
Trump also unveiled a proposal for what he called a “Trump Dividend,” saying American adults would receive $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress.
“If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000,” Trump said. “It will be called the Trump Dividend.”
The proposal immediately became one of the most closely watched announcements from the convention. Details about how such payments would be financed or implemented were not provided during Trump’s speech, and congressional action would likely be required. Vance subsequently suggested tariff revenue could be used to help finance the proposal.
Wednesday’s program also featured Republican candidates and officeholders who focused on the economy, immigration, public safety and cultural issues while contrasting their positions with Democratic candidates.
One unexpected moment came when Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a prerecorded video introducing Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, whom he described as a friend. Fetterman said he would “reject the extremes in socialism” while emphasizing areas in which the two Pennsylvania senators have worked together.
Thursday’s program shifts much of the convention’s focus toward Texas political leaders and candidates before the nationally televised closing sequence.
It also comes on a significant anniversary for the conservative movement. Kirk will be remembered during the evening program exactly one year after he was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. Turning Point USA has continued expanding its political and campus operations since Kirk’s death.
The Republican convention was designed in part to energize voters who supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election but may be less likely to participate in a midterm election when he is not personally on the ballot. Republicans are defending control of both chambers of Congress in November.
Thursday’s final night will therefore give Vance and Trump another opportunity to make the party’s case directly to voters, with Vance serving as the featured keynote speaker before Trump delivers the convention’s final remarks.
Day Two of the 2026 Republican Midterm Convention is scheduled to air live Thursday from Dallas, with coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET and the principal evening speeches culminating with Vance and Trump.
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