President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the Republican Party to hold a national convention before the 2026 midterms, breaking with the traditional practice of waiting until the presidential election year.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump stated:

The Republican Party is doing really well. Millions of people have joined us in our quest to MAKE AMERICA, GREAT AGAIN. We won every aspect of the Presidential Election and, based on the great success we are having, are poised to WIN BIG IN THE MIDTERMS. We have raised far more money than the Democrats, and are having a great time fixing all of the Country Destroying mistakes made by the Biden Administration, and watching the USA heal and prosper. The results are incredible, a record pace!!! In that light, I am thinking of recommending a National Convention to the Republican Party, just prior to the Midterms. It has never been done before. STAY TUNED!!! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Interestingly, the first national political convention in the United States was held in 1831 by the Anti-Masonic Party in Baltimore, Maryland. One year later, the Democratic Party held its first national convention, also in Baltimore, nominating Andrew Jackson for re-election. In 1839, the Whig Party, the predecessor to the Republican Party, which was founded in response to Jackson in the early 1830s, held its first national convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Republican Party held its first national convention in 1856, at which it nominated the famed explorer and U.S. Senator John Fremont.

Neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party has ever skipped a convention every four years since they started the practice. Smaller parties, such as the Free Soil Party, the Know-Nothings, and the Progressives, held their conventions irregularly.

Some possible advantages of holding a national political convention every two years include increasing fundraising opportunities and providing the party with more frequent opportunities to address its platform in response to current events or shifting public opinion.