Trump held a midterm convention to rally Republican voters

President Donald Trump's midterm convention in Dallas was meant to energize Republican voters before the November 3 elections, which will determine control of the House and Senate. Instead, the numbers since suggest Democrats gained the most. Trump called the gathering "a solidly sold out winner for Republicans," although there were reports of many empty seats, according to The Independent.

On Tuesday, RealClearPolitics' average of national congressional polling had Democrats ahead 50.5 percent to 42.1 percent. Two days before the September event, the gap was narrower, at 48.1 percent to 42.3 percent. PBS News/NPR/Marist, in a survey dated September 23, found registered voters favoring Democrats 53 percent to 41 percent, with independents leaning their way by 25 points. Roughly seven in 10 voters said Trump factors into their midterm choice. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico led Republican Ken Paxton by four points in the Senate contest on Monday, according to Big Data Poll. A Hill/Emerson survey from September 17 found 68 percent of independents said the convention did not change their enthusiasm, while 59 percent of Texas Republicans and 53 percent of Texas Democrats said it made them more eager to vote.

Speakers, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, cast Democrats as extreme. Trump floated a $5,000 payment to every American if Republicans hold Congress, at a cost of $1.25 trillion; 63 percent disapproved in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, including four in 10 Republicans. Reuters/Ipsos puts Trump's approval at 32 percent, the lowest of his career, amid the Iran war and rising costs.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →