Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker held a counter-programming press event in Dallas on Wednesday, directly across from the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention, urging voters to dismiss the gathering as political spin. His appearance underscores how the 2026 midterms are already being shaped by early positioning for 2028, with Pritzker widely seen as a potential Democratic presidential contender even as he seeks re-election to a third term in Illinois this year.

At the event, hosted by the Democratic National Committee, Pritzker accused Republicans of using a "flashy" convention to distract from the effects of Donald Trump's trade war, the conflict in Iran and rising healthcare and housing costs. He also alleged, without providing evidence, that Republicans were attempting to "rig" the midterms via a Trump executive order restricting mail-in voting through the US Postal Service, a claim the White House has dismissed as a "commonsense" security measure. The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, said the convention was intended to energise its base and protect the party's narrow majorities in Congress, with chair Joe Gruters stating that Trump himself is effectively "on the ballot."