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An increasing number of Republicans say they plan to skip President Donald Trump’s midterm convention next week in Dallas, which has been dubbed “Trumpapalooza” by the Republican National Committee.
The convention, which is set to kick off on Wednesday, carries a high price tag for lawmakers, with House members reportedly expected to contribute $25,000 each to attend. And it’s unclear whether attending a spectacle revolving around Trump will be beneficial for those Republicans locked in tight midterm contests after the president’s approval rating hit record lows last month.
Sen. Mike Rounds, who’s up for reelection in South Dakota, told reporters earlier this week that he plans to skip the event because he’s meeting with constituents across his state.
“That’s up to the folks that want to put it on,” Rounds said when asked if it’s a good idea for Republicans to put on a multimillion-dollar spectacle while voters grapple with rising costs. “This year, I’m spending as much time as I can in South Dakota talking to folks that do have concerns. Affordability is one of them.”
Trump is set to headline the two-day event, with Vice President JD Vance also slated to speak. Most top Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, will attend the convention.
But other Republican lawmakers have cited a variety of reasons for sitting out. Some had already planned to campaign in their districts, while others blamed fundraisers or family events. Trump did not announce the dates of the convention until late June.
Reps. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Tom Barrett (R-Michigan) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) are all running in races the Cook Political Report have deemed “toss ups.” With just 60 days until the midterm elections, all three told Politico this week they don’t plan to attend the convention.
Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin, also told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he’s planning to skip the event. And embattled Rep. Max Miller of Ohio, who has been accused of abusing his ex-wife and daughter, told The New York Times he’ll also stay home.
But other Republicans who are facing difficult reelection bids are planning to travel to Dallas next week. Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who’s running for an open Senate seat in Michigan, Sen. Jon Husted, who’s defending his Ohio Senate seat, and Rep. Scott Perry, who’s facing a tough race in Pennsylvania, are all slated to attend.
Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he’s been promoting the event “everywhere I’ve been,” but acknowledged there are likely to be some absences in the Republican conference.
“Some of them need to be in the district on those two days, Sept. 9 and 10,” Johnson said. “It’s a critical time right before early voting begins nationwide. So people made individual decisions based on what’s best for their districts and all.”
Vance also said that he didn’t have concerns about congressional absences at the event, telling reporters that “we don’t need a congressman in a tight race to be there in all cases.”
“Sometimes it might be better if that guy’s out there raising money,” Vance said. “What we want is every person in a tight race to go out there and make the best case they can to their constituents, so they can get reelected, and so we can do more good for the American people. That’s the goal.”
Still, staunch supporters of the president in safe seats are also planning to avoid the convention. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who leads the House Oversight Committee, said he will be in his home state during the House’s previously scheduled recess next week.
“I had stuff already planned in my congressional district or I would be there, but I got a lot going on back in Kentucky,” Comer said in an interview with NewsNation. “My time is needed there … I don’t think most members of Congress are on a regular schedule to go to party conventions.”
And Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar told CNN that she’ll be in her South Florida district during the festivities.
“I have to be in the district because I have events,” Salazar said. “I would love to go. I was thinking about it. I’m going to miss out on something important, but I cannot be in two places at the same time.”