As Republicans gather in Dallas this week for their midterm convention, a notable number of incumbents and candidates are staying away, reflecting the political challenges facing the party two months before the general election.
The two-day event, branded as a “Trump-a-palooza,” comes at a precarious moment for the GOP. President Trump’s approval ratings have slipped, the unpopular conflict in Iran has now dragged on past six months, and recent polling shows Democrats with an edge on the generic congressional ballot. Those dynamics have made some Republicans wary of being too closely associated with the president ahead of November.
Senate Absences
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), facing a tough reelection fight, will not attend. A spokesperson told the Portland Press Herald that Collins “runs her own campaign independent of any national party schedule.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is in a more competitive race than usual, said he would rather spend time meeting constituents back home. “I’m back in the state of South Dakota,” Rounds said when asked about the convention, adding, “That’s up to the folks that want to be there.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), who faces a challenge from former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), is also reportedly skipping the event.
Notably, some Senate hopefuls are embracing the gathering. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, former RNC Chair Michael Whatley, Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) are all scheduled to speak Wednesday night. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), who is facing unexpectedly strong competition, will also be in Dallas. “We’re taking nothing for granted,” Marshall said. “We need the president’s base to get out and vote.”
House Members Staying Home
Several House Republicans have also decided to skip the convention, according to CNN. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (Fla.), Tom Barrett (Mich.), Juan Ciscomani (Ariz.), Zach Nunn (Iowa), and David Valadao (Calif.) are all staying away. All but Salazar are in races rated as “toss-ups” by the Cook Political Report.
However, other vulnerable members are attending, including Reps. Derrick Van Orden (Wis.), Rob Bresnahan (Pa.), Monica De La Cruz (Texas), Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.), and Mike Lawler (N.Y.). De La Cruz announced on X that she would address the convention, writing: “Only in America can the granddaughter of a campesino who knelt in our fields, stand before a national audience like this. South Texas is a hardworking community, and I’m taking your message with me. Tune in!”
The split over attendance mirrors broader GOP anxieties about the political fallout of Trump’s recent antics and the party’s spending priorities. Some strategists worry that the convention could amplify divisions and distract from key issues, while others see it as a chance to rally the base. As Senate Republicans remain divided over the strategy, the convention’s impact on the midterms remains uncertain.
