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Members of the Florida delegation sing and dance to live music during the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, July 15, 2024. Angela Major/WPR
The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee has been described as Disneyland for conservatives — and tickets aren’t cheap.
About 2,500 Republican delegates from around the country attended the Republican National Convention, some of whom paid thousands of dollars to attend, but they said it was a small price to pay to be part of the American political system.
Luke Dretske of Berlin didn’t seek a seat in Wisconsin’s delegation to the Republican National Convention. The 25-year-old law student, city council member and vice-chairman of the Green Lake Republican Party was invited by Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming.
“So I called my wife,” Dretske said, “and I said, ‘Hey, I was named alternate representative and I’m thinking about doing it,’ and she said, ‘Yeah, you should do it!'”
But even for someone who lives nearby in Wisconsin, the cost of lodging, registration fees, event tickets and travel was steep. Dretske told his wife it would cost about $3,000. “And she said, ‘No way. We can’t afford that,'” Dretske said.
Republican National Convention attendees take a selfie at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, July 15, 2024. Angela Major/WPR
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But thanks to help from friends and family and his own savings, Dretske said he was able to witness history: He was at the Fiserv Forum when Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio was nominated as the Republican vice presidential nominee.
“I was there when President Trump made his first public appearance since the assassination attempt,” Dretske said. “It doesn’t get much more historic than that.”
Walking around the convention grounds in between interviews, delegate and former Governor Scott Walker said this year’s rally in Milwaukee will mark his fifth Republican National Convention.
“This would have been my seventh election,” Walker said, “but the first two times I was active in the party, in 1996 and 2000, it was too expensive for me, so for that reason I didn’t run.”
Walker said Republicans and Democrats don’t make money from their conventions, instead charging high entry fees to cover costs. He said younger convention-goers these days have the opportunity to get financial support from their local Republican Party or through crowdfunding online.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker attends the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., Monday, July 15, 2024. Angela Major/WPR
Just outside the stadium, as conservative icon Charlie Kirk interviewed Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, North Carolina delegate Chet Effler said he paid about $1,000 for delegate fees and another $2,000 for a hotel in Milwaukee. Effler said that didn’t include meals, bars or travel.
“I think on average a delegate from North Carolina is going to spend between $5,000 and $6,000 to attend this convention,” Effler said.
“Time, talent, and wealth”
So why is it worth it?
“You know, we have to remember that our country depends on the leadership of the people,” Effler said. “We’re just asked to serve on juries and to vote. Our country will disappear if the people don’t participate in the political process. I think that’s a small price to pay to see the freedom that we experience in America.”
Chris Vail, a representative from Nebraska, said he was told to plan on spending between $3,000 and $4,000 on the convention. He said he doesn’t make a lot of money as a nonprofit board member but said he wants to be part of Trump’s nomination for a second presidential term.
“I said, ‘I really want to do this,'” Bale says, “so I started saving $200 every paycheck.”
Additionally, Vail said that in order to be considered as a delegate, he must be elected at the county party level and then again at the state party level.
“This is about stewarding your time, talent and wealth to give back to your country,” Vail said.
Nebraska Representative Chris Vail said he was told to plan on spending $3,000 to $4,000 to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which he called “stewardship of my time, talent and fortune to give back to my country.” Rich Kremer/WPR
Wisconsin delegate and Milwaukee County Republican Party vice-chair Brett Galazzewski lives in the host city of the Republican National Convention but is staying in a hotel this week. Convention delegates are required to stay in hotels for logistical reasons, he said. He would not say how much he is spending at the convention, saying only that it is “expensive.” “It’s a real honor,” Galazzewski said. “I’m honored to be here. This is like Disneyland for conservatives. I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
This is actually just the 27-year-old Galaszewski’s second convention visit. He was in Cleveland in 2016 when Trump was first nominated by the Republican Party, and he was there again Thursday night when he was nominated again. This time around, Galaszewski said he took more time to enjoy the moment.
“I’ll never forget this,” Galaszewski said. “Being in the crowd on opening night welcoming President Trump back brought me to tears. I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it now.”
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The article ‘Like Disneyland for conservatives’: Delegates paying thousands of dollars to attend Republican National Convention in Milwaukee originally appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio.
