An invitation from the Denton County Republican Party outside of Dallas offers attendees at the GOP’s midterm convention a chance to be “honorary delegates” for a cool $20,000.
And in California, a $250,000 “golden VIP member” ticket to the convention buys four floor badges, four hotel rooms, hotel transfers, gifts – and concierge services for the weekend.
These and other invitations that state GOP parties have begun to release contain some of the first concrete information about the national midterm convention President Donald Trump has teased for months.
The invitations reflect the Republican National Committee’s guidance that state parties use the convention as a “fundraiser” for their own candidates, according to interviews with two party spokespeople. Instead of a traditional convention in which the parties conduct business or elect delegates, the states parties are framing the convention slated for Sept. 9 to 10 in Dallas – which chairman Joe Gruters is calling “Trumpapalooza” – as a way to raise money for local candidates.
“It's not just a convention. We're not going to be voting on anything. This is to rally the troops,” Denton County GOP Chair Melinda Preston said. “This is to get funds in so that we can help candidates. This is to get our people … across the finish line in November.”
And Texas is hosting one of the highest-profile races featuring Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who’s running for Senate against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
Other states are charging an array of prices. The Michigan Republican Party is offering couples honorary delegate tickets for $10,000 – $7,500 for individuals. The California Republican Party is also charging $10,000 for “VIP Delegate” tickets, $7,500 to be an alternate, and $5,000 to be a guest in the balcony.
Matt Shupe, communications director with the California GOP, said the convention will be the “Super Bowl of politics” and that the ticket will provide people “the opportunity to mix and mingle and be around you know celebrities, politicians, other supporters and leaders.”
The California Republican Party will use the money raised from California tickets for 2026 and general election candidates in the state, according to Shupe.
“This is an opportunity to be part of a historic national Republican event while also helping fund the work we must do here at home,” Shupe said. “California will have a pivotal role in 2026, and we need the resources to compete, protect our seats, expand the map, and our seats, expand the map, and defeat Democrats.”
Other states like Alabama are charging significantly less. A ticket will run you $1,300 to $1,500, not including hotel or transportation costs.
Preston stressed that the Denton County Republican Party is also recruiting volunteers, and those who can not afford the tickets could attend the convention that way.
“Trump has the ability to unite and to bring people out and to get people excited, and that's exactly what this is for,” Preston said. “This is to remind people that there is an election and that this is a big election, and to encourage people to get their neighbors, to get their family, to get the you know their friends, and get to the polls in November.”
Trump has said the convention will focus on Republican messaging ahead of his last midterms in office, and has promised “great entertainment” for the rally.
The RNC approved a rule change in January allowing a midterm convention to take place, as conventions usually only occur during presidential election years.
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