The Democratic National Committee is forgoing a party convention for the midterm elections this year, opting for a different strategy than its Republican counterpart.
The Republican National Committee is proceeding with its planned convention after President Donald Trump floated the idea last year. Democrats appear confident the move will backfire on Republicans when it comes to their performance in the midterm elections.
“Republicans were baited into wasting time and money on a midterm convention that will sink their swing-seat candidates by tying them directly to Trump’s wildly unpopular policies,” DNC Executive Director Roger Lau said in a statement first reported by CBS News on Monday. “Meanwhile, the DNC has put resources where they’re needed most and doubled down on the playbook that helped our candidates flip seats up and down the ballot in 2025.”
In response to a request for comment made by the Washington Examiner, the RNC disputed the Democratic Party’s statement.
“The DNC can’t afford to hold a midterm convention, financially or politically,” RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pels said. “They don’t have the money, and they certainly don’t have the courage to put their radical, failing agenda on full display for voters to reject.”
Despite its optimistic outlook, the DNC is trailing far behind the RNC in terms of fundraising and cash left in the bank. As time goes on, the RNC expects the fundraising gap to narrow.
Instead of a midterm convention, the DNC is focused on planning for its next presidential nominating convention in 2028.
The party is eyeing five different cities — Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia — to host the convention from Aug. 7 to 10, 2028. The 2024 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago. Each of the five prospective cities will be visited by DNC officials this spring.
“The DNC is proud to be moving forward with our 2028 Democratic National Convention plans, another critical step toward retaking the White House and finally putting an end to Republicans’ betrayal of working families,” DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a press release. “We look forward to celebrating our future nominees on the national stage and highlighting Democrats’ commitment to building a better, safer, and more affordable future for our country.”
Democrats are seeking to maintain the momentum gained from the 2025 elections in which New Jersey and Virginia elected Democratic governors who campaigned on affordability. Since then, Trump has tried making the issue his own by touting his administration’s economic agenda.
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In January, the RNC made a rule change in its first formal step toward approving a midterm convention. No specific details or timing for the event are available yet. Party conventions are typically held during presidential election cycles, but Trump and the Republican Party believe a midterm convention can help deliver their message to voters.
“The RNC is more focused and energized than ever to win in 2026,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said at the time. “Every RNC member I have talked to is excited about President Trump’s idea to hold a midterm convention — and the chance to highlight Republicans’ historic accomplishments this past year. The Republican Party is ready to fight, win, and deliver results for the American people in the midterms.”