Dallas, Texas – As the Republican Party prepares to host its inaugural midterm convention next week, a handful of high‑profile House Republicans from competitive districts announced they will not travel to the event. The decision comes amid President Trump’s push to showcase his record and rally support ahead of the November midterm elections.
Local representatives stay home to campaign
Rep. Zach Nunn (R‑IA), who is running in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, told ABC News he will remain in his district throughout the convention. “We’re going to be back in our district working hard,” Nunn said, emphasizing the importance of direct voter outreach.
Arizona’s Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R‑AZ) also declined to attend, noting a televised debate for the state’s 6th Congressional District is scheduled for September 10, the second night of the convention. “It’s a televised, pre‑scheduled debate. We can’t move it,” Ciscomani explained.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R‑PA) from Pennsylvania’s 7th District said his attendance is still undecided, pending final schedule details. “We need to know what’s going on at the convention, and we’re still waiting to see all the different scheduling items there,” he said.
Other GOP figures weigh attendance
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert (R‑CO) – a staunch supporter of President Trump – was noncommittal when asked about the convention, replying simply, “We’ll see.” Boebert’s district is considered safely Republican, but she faces a primary challenge.
Despite these absences, roughly 100 House Republicans and candidates are expected in Dallas, representing about half of the GOP House caucus. The House Republican Campaign Committee is urging members and candidates to contribute between $25,000 and $100,000 if they plan to attend, according to multiple sources.
Among those confirmed to attend are Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R‑WI), who praised the event as an “amazing platform” to discuss Republican victories, as well as Senate candidates Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Michigan’s Mike Rogers, and Ohio’s Jon Husted.
Implications for the midterm race
The convention comes at a critical moment for the party. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows President Trump’s approval rating at 33 %, the lowest of either of his terms. Nevertheless, the Trump administration is counting on the convention to energize the base and solidify messaging ahead of the November contests.
State‑level candidates are also making strategic choices. Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Rick Jackson (R) and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany (R) will skip the Dallas event to focus on in‑state campaign activities.
While the absence of several swing‑district Republicans may raise questions about unity, party leaders stress that the convention remains a vital rallying point for the broader Republican effort to retain control of Congress.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
