RNC Moves Toward First‑Ever 'America First' Midterm Convention

The Republican National Committee’s Rules Committee, meeting Thursday at the RNC winter session in Santa Barbara, California, approved a rule change that would let Chair Joe Gruters convene a special 'ceremonial' convention in a non‑presidential year, clearing a key hurdle toward holding an 'America First' midterm convention championed by President Donald Trump. The proposal, prompted by Trump’s September announcement that the GOP would stage a convention before the midterms to tout his record and boost congressional candidates, would require any such gathering to be called at least 60 days in advance and bars it from conducting formal party business. If the full RNC does not vote on the change Friday, party officials expect it will be adopted at the spring meeting, with Republicans eyeing an August event that might coincide with the regular summer RNC meeting. Gruters told Fox News the winter meeting shows Republicans are 'completely united' behind Trump and are focused on expanding their war chest, turning out voters and 'protecting the ballot' to defend narrow House and Senate majorities this fall. Democrats have also quietly discussed a possible midterm convention, signaling that both parties are weighing convention‑style events as tools to energize their bases in a volatile cycle.