The Republican National Convention opened on Wednesday in Dallas amid widespread concerns over the party’s prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite the event’s high-profile nature, recent polls indicate a challenging environment for Republicans, with a majority of Americans expressing dissatisfaction with the country’s direction and President Donald Trump’s job performance.
The latest Reuters-Ipsos national survey from August revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe the nation is on the wrong track, and over half disapprove of Trump’s presidency. The rising cost of living was identified by almost half of those surveyed as the top issue facing the country. In terms of policy solutions, 35 percent favored the Democrats’ approach to addressing economic concerns, compared with 26 percent supporting Republicans, while 28 percent remained undecided.
At a news conference, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the Republican convention, stating that the party had failed to earn voters’ support and accused Trump’s trade policies of increasing costs for American families. In contrast, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich argued that the convention could strengthen Republican morale and emphasized the importance of viewing the elections as a unified team effort, suggesting this approach could improve the party’s chances.
In tandem with the convention’s launch, Trump’s political operation significantly intensified its advertising campaign for Senate candidates by reserving nearly $48 million in ad airtime through a newly formed super PAC called No Going Back PAC. The group, linked to Trump’s primary super PAC MAGA Inc., focused its advertising heavily in key battleground states, allocating almost $15 million to Michigan, $11.1 million to Ohio, and substantial sums in New Hampshire, Alaska, North Carolina, and Georgia. The super PAC has also supported various House candidates in competitive races across several states, including Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Washington, and Alaska.
During the convention, Trump responded to questions about the absence of some Republicans in close electoral contests, asserting that all politicians the campaign wished to attend had done so.
The event took place at the American Airlines Center, where temperatures approached 100 degrees as attendees arrived early, many wearing patriotic clothing and attire typically associated with Trump rallies. Organizers arranged special seating for Trump and his family, replicating aspects of the 2024 Republican National Convention setup. However, more than half of the arena remained unfilled during the initial programming.
Prominent displays of Trump’s image and merchandise were pervasive throughout the venue, with items such as “Make America Great Again” and “Trump Was Right About Everything” hats sold for $47. Purchasers of $100 or more in merchandise received a complimentary copy of Eric Trump’s latest book. One attendee, Carolyn Atkinson, traveled from New Mexico—which Trump recently dubbed “New America” as part of a proposed name change—though she considered the rebranding a joke and downplayed its significance. Atkinson reflected the party’s prevailing message that increasing turnout among registered Republicans was more critical than courting independent voters.
The convention’s schedule included several notable speakers, such as Attorney General Todd Blanche, who would become the first sitting Justice Department head in recent history to speak at a partisan political convention. Historically, Justice Department guidelines have advised political appointees to avoid such events to maintain the department’s impartiality. Blanche’s participation was approved by the department’s ethics advisers, with the caveat that he spoke only in a personal capacity and was officially listed as “The Honorable Todd Blanche.” Other speakers included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, and Medicare Administrator Mehmet Oz, many of whom have also spoken at political events in their personal capacities.
As Republicans seek to consolidate their base and address voter concerns, the convention highlighted the party’s strategy to rally support despite facing unfavorable polling and ongoing challenges heading into the midterm elections.