MADISON — Wisconsin Republicans are set to join a 17-member delegation at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas this week, a two-day gathering party leaders hope will energize voters ahead of the November elections even as Democrats assail the event as a political extravaganza out of step with struggling families.
Who’s going — and who’s not
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming said the state’s delegation will include three members of Congress: Glenn Grothman, Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden. Schimming said other delegation spots are filled to reach a total of 17 Wisconsin delegates.
| Representative | Attending |
|---|---|
| Glenn Grothman | Yes |
| Bryan Steil | Yes |
| Derrick Van Orden | Yes |
| Tom Tiffany | No (campaigning for governor) |
Not all Wisconsin Republicans plan to attend. Rep. Tom Tiffany is foregoing the convention to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, according to party officials. Another Wisconsin Republican, Rep. Tony Wied, similarly will not attend; his office said he will spend the week touring businesses and meeting constituents in his district.
Convention format and national attention
The two-day convention runs Wednesday and Thursday. Vice President Vance is scheduled to speak the first night, with former President Donald Trump slated to speak the second night. Schimming dismissed concerns that the convention will compete for attention with NFL season openers, saying the event will command heavy coverage and includes more than 50 speeches across both evenings.
Schimming framed the gathering as “the biggest political event in the country this coming week,” stressing its potential to rally the party and amplify messaging in the run-up to the midterms.
Democrats accuse GOP of tone-deaf pageantry
State Democrats sharply criticized the convention and some Republican officials who plan to attend. A statement from Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Devin Remiker linked the event to broader campaign criticisms, arguing the spectacle conflicts with voter concerns about rising costs.
“While Wisconsinites struggle to pay for gas and groceries, Tom Tiffany found time to attend a flashy White House Rose Garden dinner to beg Trump for money to bail out his failing campaign. The GOP midterm convention is a slap in the face to working people, where Donald Trump will be charging $25,000 to attend while Wisconsin families are struggling with Trump and Tiffany’s cost-of-living crisis. I actually agree with the WisGOP Chair Brian Schimming: there is no daylight between Donald Trump and Tom Tiffany. Wisconsinites won’t be fooled by Republican showboating—they know that MAGA extremist Congressman Tom Tiffany stands in lockstep with Trump and his cost-raising agenda and will reject it in November.”
The Democratic statement underscores how national events are being leveraged in Wisconsin’s campaign narrative, framing attendance as evidence of priorities that, in the Democrats’ view, don’t align with everyday economic concerns.
What it means for Wisconsin politics
The Dallas convention offers GOP leaders a concentrated platform to present themes intended to bolster Republican candidates in key races, including those for the U.S. House and Wisconsin governor. For incumbents and challengers alike, the high-profile nature of the event can translate into donor engagement, media moments and messaging discipline.
At the same time, critics say the spectacle risks energizing opposition and providing fodder for Democratic advertising and messaging that attempts to tie local Republicans to national figures and priorities that are unpopular with swing voters.
- Delegation size: 17 Wisconsin delegates attending.
- Key attendees: Reps. Grothman, Steil and Van Orden.
- Not attending: Rep. Tom Tiffany (campaigning for governor) and Rep. Tony Wied (district events).
As the first midterm convention of its kind, the Dallas gathering will be watched closely by both parties for signs it can move voters or merely energize existing bases. For Wisconsin, the optics and remarks exchanged this week could become part of the narrative in a state that remains closely contested in national and statewide races.
Reporting from Madison contributed to this article.
