2026 U.S. Midterm Elections

The full RNC voted unanimously by voice vote to amend its bylaws and remove procedural hurdles to hold a first‑ever 2026 "midterm convention" backed by Donald Trump, with Chair Joe Gruters saying early fall is the likely timing and Dallas and Las Vegas being floated as potential host cities. Gruters said the party must "do things outside the box" to defy history and called Trump "by far the best messenger we have," and the committee also voted to posthumously honor Charlie Kirk.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a Supreme Court brief siding with California Republicans and asking the court to block Proposition 50’s mid‑decade congressional map, arguing at least one district (CA‑13) was drawn on the basis of race to boost Latino voting power and that the map is therefore an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The move follows a 2–1 federal panel ruling that upheld the voter‑approved Prop 50 map as a partisan (not racial) gerrymander—authorizing its use while litigation continues—and sets up an appeal to the Supreme Court as candidates prepare to file for 2026 races.