Midterm Convention Could Solve GOP Turnout Problem in 2026

The facts are in, and they present an uncomfortable truth for Republicans: when Donald Trump is not on the ballot, GOP voters stay home. This month’s electoral disappointments in New Jersey and Virginia confirm what political observers have known since 2017. The Republican Party has a Trump turnout problem in off-year elections, and pretending otherwise is political malpractice.

Independent and partisan voters recently gathered to discuss the issues shaping the 2026 midterm elections, and the consensus was clear. Republicans need to solve this problem, and they need to solve it now. The question is not whether Trump drives turnout. He does. The question is how Republicans can harness that energy when Trump himself is not on the ballot.

The answer may lie in an unconventional proposal that Trump has floated: a midterm national Republican convention. This is not just creative thinking. This is strategic necessity.

Consider the success of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Despite being overshadowed by assassination attempts and dramatic developments at the top of the ticket, the convention was widely regarded as one of the best ever staged. It was not merely good television. It was an experience that energized the base and showcased Republican priorities effectively.

The convention floor featured cornhole courts, bars, and restaurants that created a festive atmosphere. This was not your grandfather’s stuffy political gathering. This was an event that people actually wanted to attend. That energy translated into enthusiasm, and enthusiasm translated into votes.

A midterm convention could replicate and amplify this success. Imagine a main convention in Philadelphia, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, or in Chicago, honoring the birthplace of the Republican Party. Now imagine satellite parties in every city and town across America, each hosting its own smaller version of the main event. This is how you create a movement, not just a campaign.

Both Trump and the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, understood the power of live events intuitively. A midterm convention that combines the energy of a Trump rally with the grassroots organization of a Turning Point USA event would be formidable. This is not theory. This is proven strategy.

The most critical function of such a convention would be placing Trump front and center in the midterm elections. By 2026, Trump’s signature legislative achievements will be tangible. Tax cuts on tips and overtime will be in effect. Trillions in new investment will be taking root. Trump will have concrete accomplishments to showcase, and Republicans will have a record to run on.

Notably absent from recent off-year campaigns was any emphasis on the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This was a strategic error. Kennedy’s focus on protecting children from harmful substances in food and medicine resonates with parents across the political spectrum. This is winning messaging that Republicans left on the table.

A midterm convention would provide the platform to highlight these achievements and unite the various wings of the Trump coalition. It would give reluctant Trump voters a reason to show up. It would transform a typical midterm election into a referendum on Trump’s agenda.

The alternative is accepting defeat. Republicans can continue running conventional campaigns that fail to energize Trump’s base, or they can innovate. The data suggests that innovation is not optional. It is required.

A national midterm convention is the kind of bold thinking that wins elections. Republicans would be wise to embrace it.