Scoop: Republican midterms convention speakers revealed

President Trump and his top allies will share the stage with Republican candidates in some of the nation's most competitive races at next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas, according to a preliminary list of speakers obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: The lineup underscores a central purpose of the convention: firing up Trump voters and getting them to turn out in November, even though the president isn't on the ballot.

Driving the news: Trump will speak both nights of the Sept. 9-10 convention, while Vice President Vance will deliver a keynote address on the second night.

• The lineup also includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott are among the congressional leaders who will appear.
• One name that is notably absent from the list is Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who Trump has attacked for not doing more to pass election security legislation. But Thune is scheduled to be in Dallas next week for fundraising, and organizers say they are still adding names to the list.
• Republicans in some of the toughest races aren't attending, including Sen. Susan Collins in Maine and former Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire.

Zoom out: Republicans will use the convention to mobilize Trump voters, who party strategists worry will be less inclined to turn out than they were two years ago.

• Much of the two-day event will be focused on branding Democrats as far-outside-the-mainstream socialists.

Zoom in: The convention will put Trump onstage alongside Republicans running in many of the races that will determine control of Congress.

• Senate candidates include Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, Texas Republican Ken Paxton, Michigan Republican Mike Rogers, North Carolina Republican Michael Whatley and Georgia Rep. Mike Collins. Trump won all five states in 2024, though all of them are competitive this year.
• On the House side, New York Rep. Mike Lawler and Pennsylvania Reps. Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie are among the vulnerable incumbents slated to speak, along with Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden.
• Lawler is the only House candidate on the roster running in a district Kamala Harris carried in 2024.

Yes, but: Appearing at the convention isn't without risk for Republicans in tight races.

• Democrats are likely to portray them as closely aligned with Trump, whose approval rating was in the 30s in several recent polls.

By the numbers: About 100 Republican lawmakers and candidates are expected to attend the convention, either as speakers or in the audience. A number of non-politicians will also address the convention.

Here is the list of speakers:

Keynote Speakers

• President Trump, Night One Keynote Address and Night Two Closing Remarks
• Vice President Vance, Night Two Keynote Address
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
• Attorney General Todd Blanche
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz
• HUD Secretary Scott Turner
• Former press secretary Karoline Leavitt
• Donald Trump Jr.

Republican Leadership

• Speaker Mike Johnson
• Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso
• Senator Tim Scott, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman
• House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
• House Majority Whip Tom Emmer
• House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain
• NRCC Chair Richard Hudson
• Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters

Elected Officials

• Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas)
• Sen. Jon Husted (Ohio)
• Sen. Dave McCormick (Pa.)
• Gov. Greg Abbott (Texas)
• Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
• Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton
• Rep. Rob Bresnahan (Pa.)
• Georgia Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins
• Rep. Monica De La Cruz (Texas)
• Florida governor candidate Rep. Byron Donalds
• Rep. Brandon Gill (Texas)
• Rep. Brian Jack (Ga.)
• Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.)
• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.)
• Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.)
• Rep. Jason Smith (Mo.)
• Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Wis.)
• Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

Candidates

• Captain Mike Bouchard Jr., Candidate for U.S. House (MI-10)
• Laurie Buckhout, Candidate for U.S. House (NC-01)
• Greg Cunningham, Candidate for U.S. House (NM-02)
• Jay Feely, Candidate for U.S. House (AZ-01)
• Eric Flores, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-34)
• Carlos De La Cruz, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-35)
• Mike LiPetri, Candidate for U.S. House (NY-03)
• Derek Merrin, Candidate for U.S. House (OH-09)
• Marty O'Donnell, Candidate for U.S. House (NV-03)
• Mike Rogers, Candidate for U.S. Senate (MI)
• Tano Tijerina, Candidate for U.S. House (TX-28)
• Michael Whatley, Candidate for U.S. Senate (NC)