Overview
- The two-day convention is scheduled for Sept. 9–10 in Dallas and is expected to be headlined by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
- State Republican parties are marketing paid 'honorary delegate' and VIP packages at widely different prices, with examples reported as Texas $20,000, Michigan $7,500–$10,000, California up to $250,000 and Alabama charging roughly $1,300–$1,500.
- Organizers say the event will not conduct formal party business such as nominating candidates or approving a platform, which leaves the practical meaning of purchased 'delegate' credentials unclear.
- Anonymous Republican operatives and former officials described the gathering as a donor-focused rally and warned it risks poor turnout, logistical strain and politically linking vulnerable state candidates to the president.
- The RNC changed its rules earlier in 2026 to allow a midterm convention, a move that converts access and hospitality into a revenue stream and raises questions about what reporters and voters should watch next, including ticket sales, state party disclosures and attendance figures.