Trump approval rating
Trump faces tough odds ahead of the midterms, with approval ratings around 32-33%, amid voter dissatisfaction over the cost of living. Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is offering free tickets to the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, as President Donald Trump enters the event with approval ratings in the low 30s in recent polling.

The RNC's first-ever midterm convention opens Wednesday, 9 September, at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, where Republicans will seek to rally their base ahead of November's midterm elections. The event is expected to draw around 20,000 people, according to organisers.

Free Seats as Dallas Event Nears

The RNC launched a public lottery for complimentary tickets in August, allowing members of the public to request seats for either day or both. Lottery winners will have access to Victory Plaza, with food, drinks, and special guests, while a select number could receive VIP or front-row seats. Reports have also said party donors were urged by text message to request 'FREE TICKETS', while some Republican operatives were told seats remained available.

The free-ticket offer comes alongside far more expensive options aimed at major donors. The Wall Street Journal reported that invitations offered access to a Trump roundtable for $250,000, while a photo with the president cost $88,600. A separate JD Vance roundtable was priced at $75,000, while a photo opportunity cost $35,000, according to the report.

Trump's Approval Falls Into the Low 30s

The ticket push comes as Trump heads into the convention facing a difficult political climate ahead of November's midterms. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted 28–31 August put Trump's approval rating at 33%, a political career low, with voters particularly dissatisfied with his handling of the cost of living.

Reuters described the 33% figure as the lowest approval rating of Trump's political career. A separate University of Massachusetts Amherst survey put his approval rating at 32%, with 64% disapproving.

Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett, who is defending a competitive House seat, has said he is not attending the convention. 'I can't control what the president's going to say at the convention, but I can control where I'm at, what I'm doing,' Barrett said. Some Republican lawmakers and strategists have expressed concern that the event is too closely centred on Trump.

Texas Takes Centre Stage

The choice of Dallas carries political significance for Republicans, putting Texas at the centre of the party's focus as GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton faces Democratic nominee James Talarico in a closely contested race.

Trump won Texas by roughly 14 percentage points in 2024, but the state's Senate race has emerged as a competitive contest that could help determine control of the chamber. The convention aims to put the party's message front and centre, with more than 100 speakers and appearances from Trump, Vance, and other Republican figures. Trump has promoted the event as the 'Greatest Rally of them all' and promised to showcase the party's 'Tremendous Victories and Success.'

Can Trump Fill the Arena?

The RNC has billed the convention as a major mobilisation effort ahead of November's elections. However, free public tickets, high-priced donor packages, and notable absences have raised questions about the level of enthusiasm the Dallas event will generate. The convention nevertheless gives Republicans a high-profile platform to rally supporters and promote their candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

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