Republicans are heading into the second and final day of the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention Thursday, with Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump, and several of the party’s top congressional figures set to take the stage as the GOP looks to charge full speed ahead into a challenging 2026 election cycle.
Trump spent nearly two hours Wednesday night delivering the convention’s keynote address, touting his administration’s record and laying out the stakes for Republicans in November. He also pledged to give every U.S. adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress, saying the payment would be funded by the economy and would come with the condition that recipients spend the money in the United States.
Trump was initially expected to close out the convention Thursday, but he and Vance swapped speaking slots. Vance, who is widely viewed as one of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, will headline the second night before Trump returns for a shorter address expected to last about 15 minutes.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and former Rep. Mike Rogers — who is in a competitive Senate race against Democrat Abdul el Sayed in Michigan — are also scheduled to speak Thursday.
Cruz has recently floated himself as a potential 2028 presidential contender. In a recent interview with Politico, the Texas senator touted his experience and influence in GOP campaigns.
“I would say in the last decade, there’s not another Republican who has campaigned for more senators, House members, and gubernatorial candidates than I have,” Cruz said.
The second night will also feature several figures closely tied to Trump, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Donald Trump Jr. set to appear together.
Leavitt’s appearance comes after she announced she would return to MAGA Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC, after leaving the White House last month.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who is also scheduled to speak, has defended his decision to participate in the convention despite facing a competitive reelection race. Lawler told the Washington Examiner that his speech would focus on his record for his district and his willingness to stand up to Trump when necessary.
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“He’s president of the United States,” Lawler said. “This is an opportunity to talk about what we’ve actually done.”
The convention marks the Republican Party’s effort to build momentum heading into a midterm election that will determine control of Congress and serve as a test of Trump’s second-term agenda, even while the president is facing dismal approval ratings.