Blab Politics
Brandon Gill Opens RNC Mid-Term Convention in Dallas, Warns of "Woke 2.0"
On Wednesday, Republican Representative Brandon Gill (TX‑26) lit up the American Airlines Center in Dallas with a rousing address that set the tone for the Republican National Committee’s first mid‑term convention. The two‑day gathering, slated for September 9–10, 2026, opened with a land acknowledgment that Gill called “appropriate” for the setting.
Gill’s speech was a blend of cultural critique, economic warning, and a call to action for the 2026 mid‑term election. He framed the upcoming contest as a clash between the “mainstream” and the “extreme,” and singled out Democrats’ positions on the flag, capitalism, gender, and religion. In a moment that drew laughter from the audience, the congressman said Democrats were nominating “their crazies for Congress.”
The congressman then turned to a recent interview with New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (NY‑14). In August, AOC had dismissed the first wave of progressive politics as “Woke 1 was crazy.” Gill acknowledged that she was right about that wave but warned that a new wave—what he dubbed “Woke 2.0”—would not be tolerated.
Economic concerns dominated the rest of Gill’s address. He cited the Consumer Price Index, which rose 9.1 percent in the 12 months ending June 2022, the steepest increase since 1981. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation reached nine percent during President Biden’s first term. Gill warned that Democrats who now claim to champion affordability had actually helped create that inflation and would repeat the same policies if elected.
Linking economics to immigration, Gill accused Democrats of an “open‑border” stance that had “flooded our nation with millions of low‑wage migrants.” He warned that a return to Democratic control would bring back nine‑percent inflation and open borders.
Gill closed with a concise summary of the three themes he’d highlighted: inflation, the border, and “woke insanity.” He pledged that the Republican Party would not return to “divisive racialized politics,” nine‑percent inflation, or open borders.
The convention itself represents a new format for the RNC. Announced in June, the event will run September 9–10, 2026, with former President Donald Trump appearing on both nights. The gathering is intended to rally the party’s base ahead of the November elections.
Gill, who was elected to Congress in 2024, is the youngest Republican member of the House. A former investment banker and founder of the online newspaper D.C. Enquirer, he represents Texas’s 26th congressional district, which includes parts of Denton County.
The phrase “Woke 2.0” has gained traction after AOC’s August interview. Political commentators note that the term is used to describe a perceived next phase of progressive politics, but no official policy proposals have been linked to it.
The convention’s focus on cultural and economic issues reflects the Republican Party’s strategy to mobilize voters around identity politics and fiscal concerns. The messaging delivered at Dallas will likely shape the party’s platform and campaign rhetoric in the months leading up to the 2026 mid‑term elections.
As the event concludes, the RNC will move forward with finalizing its platform, coordinating campaign strategies, and preparing for the November vote. The outcomes of this gathering will set the narrative for the Republican Party, but their ultimate impact will depend on how the messaging resonates with voters nationwide.
Gill’s speech was a blend of cultural critique, economic warning, and a call to action for the 2026 mid‑term election. He framed the upcoming contest as a clash between the “mainstream” and the “extreme,” and singled out Democrats’ positions on the flag, capitalism, gender, and religion. In a moment that drew laughter from the audience, the congressman said Democrats were nominating “their crazies for Congress.”
The congressman then turned to a recent interview with New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (NY‑14). In August, AOC had dismissed the first wave of progressive politics as “Woke 1 was crazy.” Gill acknowledged that she was right about that wave but warned that a new wave—what he dubbed “Woke 2.0”—would not be tolerated.
Economic concerns dominated the rest of Gill’s address. He cited the Consumer Price Index, which rose 9.1 percent in the 12 months ending June 2022, the steepest increase since 1981. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation reached nine percent during President Biden’s first term. Gill warned that Democrats who now claim to champion affordability had actually helped create that inflation and would repeat the same policies if elected.
Linking economics to immigration, Gill accused Democrats of an “open‑border” stance that had “flooded our nation with millions of low‑wage migrants.” He warned that a return to Democratic control would bring back nine‑percent inflation and open borders.
Gill closed with a concise summary of the three themes he’d highlighted: inflation, the border, and “woke insanity.” He pledged that the Republican Party would not return to “divisive racialized politics,” nine‑percent inflation, or open borders.
The convention itself represents a new format for the RNC. Announced in June, the event will run September 9–10, 2026, with former President Donald Trump appearing on both nights. The gathering is intended to rally the party’s base ahead of the November elections.
Gill, who was elected to Congress in 2024, is the youngest Republican member of the House. A former investment banker and founder of the online newspaper D.C. Enquirer, he represents Texas’s 26th congressional district, which includes parts of Denton County.
The phrase “Woke 2.0” has gained traction after AOC’s August interview. Political commentators note that the term is used to describe a perceived next phase of progressive politics, but no official policy proposals have been linked to it.
The convention’s focus on cultural and economic issues reflects the Republican Party’s strategy to mobilize voters around identity politics and fiscal concerns. The messaging delivered at Dallas will likely shape the party’s platform and campaign rhetoric in the months leading up to the 2026 mid‑term elections.
As the event concludes, the RNC will move forward with finalizing its platform, coordinating campaign strategies, and preparing for the November vote. The outcomes of this gathering will set the narrative for the Republican Party, but their ultimate impact will depend on how the messaging resonates with voters nationwide.
