Thune skips midterm convention speech as GOP leaders gather for election push

Published September 6, 2026 3:46pm ET



Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is among the Republican Party’s most notable national leaders not delivering a speech at the first-ever midterm convention in Texas later this week.

The Republican National Committee has released the full list of keynote speakers for the party’s convention. Unlike his House counterpart, Thune was noticeably absent from the lineup. He is still expected to attend the convention in Dallas, though.

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