Congress
House GOP members skip party’s midterm convention as Jeffries weighs discipline for Democratic defectors
PN Team • 2 months ago
Many Republicans facing tough November races are avoiding next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas, the first held by a major party in over four decades. A POLITICO survey found roughly 45 of more than 70 GOP candidates and members contacted are skipping or undecided, citing scheduling conflicts, high attendance fees, and reluctance to appear alongside President Donald Trump, who is set to headline with Vice President JD Vance. Top leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune plan to attend, along with 2028 hopefuls like Sen. Ted Cruz.
Separately, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is weighing disciplinary action against Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez after the two Democrats helped Republicans pass a procedural rule, prompting a referral to the caucus's rules panel. Other pending items include a bipartisan bill policing lawmaker misconduct, a possible September floor vote on Russia sanctions legislation, and an unresolved GOP split over regulating data centers ahead of the midterms.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Donald Trump Trump's presence is cited as a reason many Republicans are avoiding the convention, implying reputational friction within his party.
- Republican Party (United States) Many GOP candidates are avoiding their own party's convention, suggesting internal discomfort and division ahead of midterms.
- Ted Cruz Cruz is mentioned attending as a 2028 hopeful, a positive visibility signal.
- John Thune Thune is noted as a top leader attending the convention, reflecting steady leadership engagement.
- Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is mentioned amid internal discipline discussions over defectors, reflecting mild internal strain.
- Hakeem Jeffries Jeffries is portrayed as considering disciplinary action against his own members, a neutral-to-slightly-tense leadership moment.
- Dallas Dallas is mentioned as the neutral host city for the convention.
- United States Congress Congress is mentioned as the setting for legislative activity without specific reputational framing.
- United States Senate The Senate is referenced factually as part of the legislative context.