The list of speakers at this week’s Republican convention in Dallas includes U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.
President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance headline the first-ever Republican National Committee Midterm Convention, which takes place Wednesday and Thursday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Republican National Committee released an initial lineup of more than 40 featured speakers, a mix of top Cabinet secretaries, Republican lawmakers and candidates in key House, Senate and gubernatorial contests.
Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., is seeking a second term against Democrat Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, in a Nov. 3 contest many experts view as a toss-up. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat from Moosic, narrowly lost his House seat to Bresnahan in 2024.
The Cook Political Reports lists the race between Bresnahan and Cognetti and 20 others as toss-ups. Democrats need a net gain of three seats to regain control of the House.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Eli Cousin derided Bresnahan in an email for going to the GOP convention in Texas.
“So why is Rob Bresnahan jetting off to Dallas, Texas instead of Dallas Township, or doing anything to help the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania?” Cousin asked.
Breshnahan is tentatively scheduled to speak at the convention Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. EDT, Bresnahan Campaign Manager Peter Brath said.
“Rob lives and works in this district, which is probably why Paige Cognetti and her allies may have missed him while she skips town (and work) for fundraisers and campaign events,” Brath said in an email. “Every day his work is driven by the people of NEPA and he is excited to bring the issues they discuss and the work they’ve done to the national stage to highlight just how important this region and its residents are to the fabric of our country.”
Cousin responded by referring to the Iran War and the average price for diesel in the U.S. reaching a record high of $5.85 per gallon and said, “Northeastern Pennsylvanians can’t afford Rob Bresnahan.”
On Friday, Trump downplayed the ongoing military conflict with Iran as “small potatoes.” Trump is set to speak on the first night of the convention in Dallas on Wednesday and deliver closing remarks on Thursday.
McCormick did not respond to an email seeking comment on being listed as a convention speaker. McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, won a six-year term in the U.S. Senate in 2024 by unseating Bob Casey, a Democrat from Scranton.
Vance is set to deliver his keynote address at the convention on Thursday night. Other GOP convention speakers included: former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump Jr., Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.