President Donald Trump has hailed the Republican National Committee's first-ever midterm convention, taking place in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday, as a "HOT" and "totally sold out" event, but a significant number of GOP lawmakers are choosing to stay away. The convention is designed to boost Republican support ahead of the 3 November midterms, with Trump headlining both nights and Vice President JD Vance also speaking, yet the absences highlight tensions within the party over how closely candidates want to align themselves with the president in competitive races.

Among those skipping the event are Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is in a tight re-election battle, and outgoing Texas Senator John Cornyn, whom Trump pushed out of his seat. Politico found at least 45 of 70 Republicans it surveyed would not attend or were undecided, while NBC News reported a majority of over 50 members contacted gave similar responses. Steep costs appear to be a factor, with VIP tickets reportedly priced at $25,000 and some packages reaching $100,000; Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett called the price "pretty steep" and said he would rather spend campaign funds in his own district. First Lady Melania Trump is also reportedly not attending, while Cabinet members Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth are barred from political events by law, though Attorney General Todd Blanche is set to speak in a personal capacity, raising Hatch Act concerns. Organisers still expect between 20,000 and 30,000 attendees at the sold-out Dallas venue.