{"id":2655413,"date":"2026-09-06T16:13:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T20:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-skips-midterm-convention-speech-as-gop-leaders-gather-for-election-push\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T16:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T20:14:21","slug":"thune-skips-midterm-convention-speech-as-gop-leaders-gather-for-election-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-skips-midterm-convention-speech-as-gop-leaders-gather-for-election-push\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune skips midterm convention speech as GOP leaders gather for election push"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-skips-midterm-convention-speech-as-gop-leaders-gather-for-election-push%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2655413&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota will not give a speech at the upcoming midterm convention in texas, marking a departure from his House counterpart. Instead, he plans to attend a fundraiser for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the Senate. ThuneS absence from the keynote lineup has drawn attention, though he is still expected to participate in the event. The convention occurs less than two months before the November midterms, which will determine control of Congress. Thune explained his decision not to speak as an effort to give other candidates and members a platform. Despite his absence from the stage, Thune is supporting Paxton&#8217;s campaign, even after initially backing a different candidate. The event features prominent speakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, and Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott, with Donald Trump delivering keynote speeches. Thune has experienced some tensions with the White House, and there is speculation about intra-party disagreements, especially as Thune fears losing senate control if Democrats gain enough seats. He remains focused on the election and supports high-quality candidates to maintain Republican strength.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"178\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) is among the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"514\">Republican Party\u2019s<\/a> most notable national leaders not delivering a speech at the first-ever midterm convention in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"253\">Texas<\/a> later this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2059\">Republican National Committee<\/a> has released the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gop.com\/press-release\/republican-national-committee-announces-keynote-speakers-for-2026-republican-convention\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/gop.com\/press-release\/republican-national-committee-announces-keynote-speakers-for-2026-republican-convention\/\">full list of keynote speakers<\/a> for the party\u2019s convention. Unlike his House counterpart, Thune was noticeably absent from the lineup. He is still expected to attend the convention in Dallas, though.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4715525\/john-thune-republican-midterm-convention-speech\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune skips midterm convention speech as GOP leaders gather for election push<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4715441\/raskin-hasan-piker-hamas-israel-midterm-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Raskin dismisses Hasan Piker\u2019s pro-Hamas sentiment as \u2018irrelevant distraction\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4714406\/midterm-countdown-republicans-find-boogeymen-voter-sentiment-kamala-and-data-centers\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Midterm Countdown: Republicans find their boogeymen<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The convention is arriving less than 60 days before the Nov. 3 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"308\">midterm elections<\/a>, when the nation will decide the fate of the Republican Party\u2019s control over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"31\">Congress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune opted out of making a speech because \u201che wanted to ensure candidates and other members who aren\u2019t often afforded a national platform had the opportunity to address the convention,\u201d NewsNation White House correspondent Kellie Meyer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KellieMeyerNews\/status\/2096401373877186976\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KellieMeyerNews\/status\/2096401373877186976\">reported<\/a>, based on a source.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of appearing on stage, Thune will be attending a fundraiser for Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a>, who is running for the Senate against Democratic nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17710\">James Talarico<\/a>. The Senate majority leader\u2019s expected appearance at the fundraiser is notable, considering he initially supported incumbent Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"965\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX) in his primary bid against Paxton. Thune later endorsed the state attorney general.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton is among the speakers chosen to headline the two-day midterm convention, scheduled to run from Wednesday to Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other speakers include House Speaker <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7043\">Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA), Senate Majority Whip <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-barrasso\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2416\">John Barrasso<\/a> (R-WY), and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-scott\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"521\">Tim Scott<\/a> (R-SC).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> is also set to speak, delivering the keynote address on the first night and the closing speech on the second. Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">JD Vance<\/a> is scheduled to open the second night with his keynote address.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though there have been some disagreements between Thune and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8767\">White House<\/a>, Vance maintains the president\u2019s relationship with the Senate Republican leader is \u201cvery good.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump declined to endorse Thune for a future term as leader amid disputes over passing the SAVE America Act and eliminating the filibuster. Separately, Vance said it wasn\u2019t his \u201cbusiness\u201d to lend an endorsement either.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4712418\/vance-thune-endorsement-senate-gop-leader\/\">VANCE: \u2018IT\u2019S NOT MY BUSINESS\u2019 TO ENDORSE THUNE FOR ANOTHER TERM AS SENATE LEADER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from the reported intraparty tensions, Thune is more concerned about the party\u2019s loss of control over the Senate if Democrats win enough seats this year. This fear would explain why he is publicly backing Paxton at this week\u2019s fundraiser.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI worry about that, for sure,\u201d Thune <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.keloland.com\/news\/local-news\/thune-weighs-in-on-beef-iran-data-centers-save-act\/amp\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.keloland.com\/news\/local-news\/thune-weighs-in-on-beef-iran-data-centers-save-act\/amp\/\">told<\/a> South Dakota outlet Keloland News last week. \u201cI\u2019m a realist, and I just think you \u2014 I don\u2019t ever try and sugarcoat things. I think it\u2019s a competitive environment right now. I think we got the highest-quality candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune skips speech at Texas GOP midterm convention<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2655414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26210700746112.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[19752,6203,34250,4554,23610],"class_list":["post-2655413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-convention","tag-gop","tag-midterm-elections","tag-speech","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26210700746112.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2655413"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2655416,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655413\/revisions\/2655416"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2655414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2655413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2655413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2655413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}