Trump-skeptical Republicans are apprehensive about attending Milwaukee convention
By
Ross O'Keefe
May 23, 2024 11:57 am
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Several key Republicans in the Senate haven’t made a decision on whether they will attend former President Donald Trump’s presidential nomination at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Rand Paul (R-KY), told the Hill they have not decided whether they will attend gathering. Four, including Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Todd Young (R-IN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), have decided they will not go.
That makes at least nine of the Republican party’s 49 senators who will not or haven’t decided on going to the convention. Eight of the nine have not backed Trump’s presidential run, and that appears to be a key factor in their decision or lack thereof to go to the convention.
There’s precedent for GOP senators missing the convention. More than 20 Senate Republicans avoided the 2016 convention as the party grappled with Trump’s nomination, and some avoided the 2020 iteration, though that was heavily influenced by COVID-19.
The 2024 convention is Trump’s third, and a major event, like the pandemic, isn’t reducing attendance.
Rounds has indicated that he could change his mind about attending depending on who Trump picks for his running mate. He likes Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is a favorite, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in particular.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3014547/trump-skeptical-republicans-are-apprehensive-about-attending-milwaukee-convention/
