Politics
Many Republican candidates and lawmakers opt out of Trump's midterm convention
A survey of over 70 Republicans shows widespread hesitation to attend the Dallas gathering, citing cost, local campaigns, and political risks.
The short version
- A Politico survey found that most surveyed Republican candidates and lawmakers are skipping or remain undecided about Donald Trump's upcoming Dallas midterm convention.
- Reasons given include schedule conflicts, a minimum $25,000 attendee donation fee requested by party campaign committees, and hesitation from battleground candidates to align closely with Trump.
- Top leadership including Speaker Mike Johnson plan to attend, while RNC organizers dispute claims of low interest and maintain that enthusiasm is strong.
Key facts
- A survey of more than 70 GOP candidates and lawmakers showed that most either do not plan to attend or have not decided on attending the Dallas midterm convention, with 45 respondents citing specific reasons for skipping.[Politico]
- The event at the American Airlines Center is headlined by Donald Trump and JD Vance, with top congressional leaders like Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune planning to attend.[Politico]
- An NRCC memo revealed suggested minimum donations of $25,000 for lawmakers to receive event tickets and hotel access, which some members cited as a deterrent.[Politico]
- RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre defended the gathering, stating that outreach, enthusiasm, and participation have been strong.[Politico]
What remains uncertain
- Final attendance numbers and the exact roster of participating battleground candidates remain unconfirmed ahead of the event.[Politico]