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Roll Call on the Road: Day One of the Republican midterm convention

Party faithful gather in Dallas eight weeks before November elections

President Donald Trump arrives to speak Wednesday at the Republican midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
President Donald Trump arrives to speak Wednesday at the Republican midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
By Bill Clark
Posted September 10, 2026 at 2:10am

Republicans convened Wednesday in Dallas for their first midterm convention, hoping to energize their voters and hone their campaign message heading into the fall elections.

Speakers at the American Airlines Center extolled GOP-led achievements and warned against giving Democrats control of Congress next year. President Donald Trump was the night’s last speaker, and he is also expected to address attendees on Thursday, the second and final day of the convention.

Here are images from Wednesday as captured by CQ Roll Call:

Attendees pose with an anti-communism banner Wednesday outside the American Airlines Center before the start of the Republican midterm convention in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Christopher Macchio sings the National Anthem to kick off the GOP midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters opens the midterm convention on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz, who’s running for Texas’ 35th District, speaks Wednesday during the convention in Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise speaks during Republicans’ midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Attendees wave signs Wednesday as Scalise speaks during the Republican midterm convention. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley speaks Wednesday during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton waves onstage Wednesday at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Attendees wave signs as Paxton speaks during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman speaks via video Wednesday at Republicans’ midterm convention in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Former New York State Assemblyman Mike LiPetri, who’s running for the state’s 3rd District, speaks Wednesday during the GOP midterm convention in Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, a candidate for Senate, speaks Wednesday during the GOP convention in downtown Dallas. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Trump arrives to speak at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Trump dances to “Y.M.C.A.” after speaking at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

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