Politics chat: First-ever Republican midterm convention or Trump rally?

A first-ever Republican midterm convention is taking place this week in Dallas, but are candidates interested in attending? Plus, Michigan's Democratic senate candidate apologizes to Jewish voters.

By Bay News Staff Washington Published Sunday, September 6, 2026, 12:02 PM ET

Photo: NPR

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WASHINGTON: A first-ever Republican midterm convention is taking place this week in Dallas, but are candidates interested in attending? Plus, Michigan's Democratic senate candidate apologizes to Jewish voters.

It's Labor Day weekend, and with Election Day just 58 days away, it's time for all the candidates to eat their Wheaties, grab their water bottles and buckle up. The rest of us could probably stand to do that too. Joining me now is NPR senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Good morning, Mara.

RASCOE: This is not a presidential election year, and yet the Republican National Committee is holding a convention in Dallas in just a few days. No one's getting formally nominated at it, s? o what's the goal of this event?

LIASSON: Well, it's not really a convention as we know them. It's a Trump rally, and on Truth Social a few months ago, Donald Trump called it that. He said it would be a rally like none other. But despite that hype, not all Republican candidates are going to be there or want to be there, especially ones who are locked in very tight races. They'd rather spend their time back home campaigning. And given how unpopular the president is, how unpopular his war in Iran is and tariffs and his strong support of data centers, which are very unpopular with Democrats and Republicans, for a lot of Republican candidates, it's not helpful for them to be seen with Trump.

RASCOE: But many of these candidates do need money to spend on their campaigns, and doesn't President Trump have a lot of that that he could give them?

LIASSON: Absolutely. And until now, he hasn't been spending it freely on Republican candidates, but here's what he said in the Oval Office on Friday when he was asked about that.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think I have, like, a, close to a billion dollars in the super PAC, and I'm allocating probably four or $500 million. So I'll be spending, we'll be spending...

This Bay News report is based on originating coverage from NPR.

This Bay News report is based on official statements and reporting from NPR. Read the originating dispatch.