WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) won’t have a speaking slot at the GOP’s 2026 midterm convention in Dallas this week, unlike House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Instead, Thune is expected to be assisting candidates at Dallas fundraisers while giving others “a turn in the spotlight,” The Post can confirm.
While Johnson was granted a featured speaker slot, Thune (R-SD) will attend the convention but participate in other events, according to a source familiar with the majority leader’s plans. Punchbowl News first reported the news.
Fundraising is expected to take a heavy focus, with Republican donors being offered seats to roundtables with the president, vice president and other party bosses for tens of thousands of dollars, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Republican National Committee has already listed Johnson, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as speakers.
President Trump, at times, has had a strained relationship with Thune, demanding he pass the Save America Act to mandate voter ID and other election reforms — while pressuring him to eliminate the longstanding tradition of the filibuster to get the votes.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance are also expected to deliver keynote addresses, along with Cabinet and administration officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Other speakers include:
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
- Donald Trump Jr.
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)
- House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)
- National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC)
- Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.)
- Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.)
The convention — billed as “Trump-a-palooza” by RNC Chairman Joe Gruters — will also provide ample opportunity for donors and candidates in competitive races to rub elbows.
Initially, Republican candidates in competitive races had balked at being told they’d have to fork over $25,000 just to attend the convention themselves.
Even Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) in a safe Republican district called the fee “pretty steep.”
Delegates will also have to pay a hefty bill, with New York Republicans hoping to head to the floor paying $4,000 and alternate delegates paying $2,500, according to the Washington Examiner.
Contributors hoping for a glimpse of the president and vice president will have to pay even more.
A fundraising event with Trump scheduled for Wednesday is reportedly costing GOP donors up to $250,000 per ticket and $88,600 for each person who wants to take a picture with the president, The Journal reported.
Another roundtable event with Vance the following day will cost donors $75,000 per person and $35,000 for each photo taken with the vice president.
