Large numbers of Republicans are choosing to sit out Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas, even as the president promotes the event as “really HOT!”
The two-day Republican gathering, designed to energize GOP voters and candidates ahead of the November elections, is scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon and wrap up on Thursday.
Trump is slated to headline both nights, while Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the crowd Wednesday evening. The program will also give several lesser-known Republican candidates a chance to introduce themselves to voters before Election Day.
“The Republican National Convention, tomorrow night in Dallas, is really ‘HOT!’ The American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks, is totally sold out,” Trump wrote ahead of the rally.
Yet despite the buildup — and the booking of a major NBA arena for what some have dubbed “Trumpapalooza” — many rank-and-file Republicans say they will not be attending the Dallas event.
Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has sparred with Trump and is running for re-election in a toss-up race, has said she is skipping. Outgoing Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, who Trump bullied out of his Senate seat, is also missing the convention.
So too are other senators and House members running in more moderate areas who fear that aligning themselves more closely with Trump or the event could hurt their chances at winning.
‘The reality is that if you aren’t speaking, you’re likely in district campaigning,’ one of the midterm organizers told the Daily Mail, adding they are unsure how many Republican lawmakers will attend.
At least 45 out of 70 Republicans recently told Politico that they would not attend or were still making up their minds. Similarly, NBC News asked over 50 members; 33 said they would not attend while just 29 said they would.
President Donald Trump has touted the GOP midterm convention as a ‘hot’ ticket, but many Republicans are avoiding the two-day event
The event will run Wednesday and Thursday and include two speeches, one each night, from the president. Some lawmakers have been stunned by the staggering costs associated with attending the convention
First Lady Melania Trump is reportedly not going to the two-day convention in Dallas
Perhaps deterring some lawmakers is the reported $25,000 price tag for a VIP ticket.
For that price, lawmakers get two convention tickets, a reserved hotel room and two spots at the chairman’s welcome reception, according to a National Republican Congressional Committee memo that was distributed to lawmakers.
While some tickets were offered for free, some VIP packages were priced as high as $100,000.
‘It’s $25,000, apparently,’ Republican Congressman Tim Burchett said this week. ‘It’s pretty steep.’ He confirmed to the Daily Mail that he will not attend the Dallas convention.
Dozens of GOP members have noted that they would rather use that money to put towards their own competitive races.
‘I just felt I’d be more useful in my district,’ Congressman Tom Barrett of Michigan told Politico. ‘I can’t control what the president’s going to say at the convention, but I can control where I’m at, what I’m doing.’
But it’s not just some members of Congress who are skipping out – First Lady Melania Trump is also reportedly missing the event.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are not slated to speak, but this could be because of laws barring them from appearing at political events due to their roles.
However, Attorney General Todd Blanche will speak in his personal capacity – sparking Hatch Act concerns.
Trump will headline the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration’s achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3.
Republican Congressman from Tennessee Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail he will not attend after expressing that the ticket prices to attend the convention were ‘steep’
The event’s organizers believe there will be between 20,000 and 30,000 attendees over the two-day convention.
Just about 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to attend, in addition to dozens of Senators.
In fact, Trump claims the event is so popular that organizers have been ordered to keep a tight guard on the speaking slots so that incumbent Republicans don’t overshadow the fresh candidates.
‘Everybody wants to be there, but we’re really asking only those Candidates that are in tight Races, a little up, a little down, or even, to speak,’ Trump wrote.
‘We want to save the “stage” for them. We don’t need people who are up 45 points, and have been in office for 30 years, as much as we love them all!’