Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Sep 2

Vulnerable Republicans Skip Trump's $25,000 Dallas Rally as Midterm Races Tighten

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Sep 2

Vulnerable Republicans Skip Trump's $25,000 Dallas Rally as Midterm Races Tighten

Q: Why are dozens of lawmakers abandoning a major national convention right before the upcoming midterms?

Dozens of Republican lawmakers are skipping the Dallas midterm convention because, for many of them, staying in their districts is more useful politically than attending a costly, Trump-centered national event. The convention is unusual for a midterm year and is being billed by party leaders as a major enthusiasm boost, but it is closer to a large rally than a traditional convention. It has no delegates, no platform votes and no formal nomination business. Lawmakers are reportedly being asked to pay $25,000 to attend, a steep price at a moment when many candidates are prioritizing local fundraising, voter contact and district events just before early voting begins. For incumbents in competitive races, the timing is a major factor. Members such as David Valadao in California, Max Miller in Ohio, Tom Barrett in Michigan and Zach Nunn in Iowa have said they need to remain focused on campaigning at home. In swing districts, candidates often see direct outreach to local voters as more valuable than spending two days at a national gathering. Trump’s low approval ratings in some battleground areas also appear to be shaping decisions. Valadao, for example, is running in a redrawn district that has become more favorable to Democrats, and polling there has shown Trump underwater. Political analysts say the Dallas event may energize core supporters, but any polling benefit could be short-lived, especially with voters more focused on prices, the economy and other day-to-day concerns.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 2

Competitive House and Senate Republicans are declining to attend Donald Trump's Sept. 9-10 Dallas rally, opting to stay in their districts weeks before the midterm elections.
The absences reflect a bleak political environment for the party, with Trump's approval rating at a record low and candidates wary of being tied too closely to him.
Lawmakers are being charged $25,000 to attend the event, which Trump has promoted as a "Historic" convention-style gathering and will headline on both nights.
David Valadao of California and Max Miller of Ohio are among those staying away, underscoring how even invited Republicans in difficult races see more value in local campaigning than appearing with the president.