GOP Convention Boost for Midterm Victories? Conservative Leader Claims Trump Has ‘Fighting Chance’

By Jim Mishler | Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Matt Schlapp, chair of the Conservative Political Action Conference, stated that despite traditional odds, President Donald Trump and the GOP party have a “fighting chance” to retain congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm elections.

Schlapp told a recent broadcast that a key reason for this outlook is what Democrats are allowing within their own ranks. “It’s because these are lunatics that they’re nominating,” he said.

Schlapp described emerging Democratic leaders as showing “Marxist” tendencies, noting that “New York City started.” He added that the group previously known as “the squad” comprised a handful of anti-Israel women in Congress who have since grown to form a majority of their Democratic caucus if current trends continue.

Schlapp also expressed optimism about the GOP’s planned midterm convention. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the party will hold its first midterm convention, a two-day event in Dallas set for September 9-10 to celebrate his administration and energize supporters ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“I am happy it’s in Dallas,” Schlapp said, noting the strategic benefit for Republican Senator Ken Paxton in his Senate race, where recent polls showed a dead heat.

Schlapp acknowledged that midterm conventions are expensive but argued they provide a novel approach to party operations: “They’re expensive… You turn a lot of money that could go to campaigns. But got to give Trump credit. It busts the old system.”