WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is betting big on a first-of-its-kind Republican convention next week in Texas.
A rare GOP midterm convention will take place in Dallas next weekend, with President Donald Trump set to take center stage. But with recent approval ratings taking a dip for the president, some Republicans are opting to dip out of the event.
Energizing voters, fundraising for candidates and highlighting Republican accomplishments — those are the goals of President Trump and Republican leaders at next week’s convention.
“I think it’s going to be an extraordinary opportunity for us to get a couple of nights on national television to talk about our extraordinary record of achievement,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
Party leaders and many members are embracing and looking forward to the event.
“Yes. Yeah, looking forward to doing that,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., who’s also looking forward to speaking at the convention.
“I’ll be speaking. And also, I’ll have the privilege of introducing Vice President Vance,” Thompson added.
But a recent survey by Politico found more than 70 GOP candidates and members revealed that most either do not plan to attend or are still weighing whether to go.
“No, nope,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., when asked if she had plans to attend the convention. “Not at all.”
Some Republicans are citing prior commitments for their absence from the event. Some have cited a reported $25,000 minimum attendee donation. Others say they simply cannot swing it.
“I’ve got about two weeks worth of work that I’ve left behind that I got to get on,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.
Several candidates in competitive swing districts have opted not to attend, or have yet to commit. Analysts say it’s a political balancing act.
“In some of these districts, not a lot, but some of them, the Trump name actually does more damage for Republican lawmakers than his support does,” said Casey Burgat, a professor of Legislative Affairs at George Washington University. “This is what happens when you have a mid-thirties, low 30s percent approval rating.”
Burgat said pollsters and consultants are able to provide insight and data on how many swing district constituents view the president and his policies.
“Which is why you see a lot of these candidates in these purple districts distancing themselves, not taking the MAGA Trump hard line — hook, line and sinker. They’re making their own case to voters, hoping that that will be enough to bear out,” Burgat said.
The party’s top brass- Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Vice President J.D. Vance and others- are expected to join President Trump in the Lone Star State.
The hesitancy among several Republicans on whether to attend the convention comes as House leaders decided Thursday morning to cancel two weeks of scheduled session days later this month. The change in schedule will significantly alter the window of opportunity for House Republicans to pass any legislation before the midterms.
“I think it screams, at least in D.C., that they don’t have the votes within the Republican conference to accomplish those priorities. If they did, they’d be here, they’d be working on it, hammering out those final items that are keeping some voters from a ‘yea’ for Speaker Mike Johnson,” Burgat said. “Those priorities don’t have the votes to pass right now, so they’d rather get out of town.”
Just four session days in mid-September remain between now and November 9, which is when lawmakers return after the midterms.
