Republicans aren’t exactly flocking to Trump’s midterm convention

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is trying to flip retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ seat in Michigan, and Sen. Jon Husted, who is working to fend off a challenge from former Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, will both attend, according to their campaigns. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who is expected to be the next Senate GOP campaign chair, is also planning to be there.

Johnson said he has been “promoting this everywhere” as an important event for the party but also acknowledged it’s a crucial time for some of his members to spend time in their districts.

“They’ve got to all make their own individual decision … but the people that do come are going to have a great time,” Johnson said in an interview, adding that he expects high attendance during the convention. He acknowledged in a news conference Tuesday, however, that some members will need to be in their districts because “it’s critical time right before early voting begins nationwide.”

With Trump front and center at the convention, some Republicans are privately fretting about slipping presidential approval ratings in their districts amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, a trade war with Canada and rising prices from both. Other moves by the administration, such as a deal tackling beef imports to address affordability, have angered other key GOP constituencies.

One House Republican not attending the convention who was granted anonymity to speak candidly called the event “a waste of time” and said the planning has been “a mess.”

“You shouldn’t be having to rally your base at this point,” the member said. “You should be trying to convince independents. Independents are not attending nor watching the midterm convention.”

RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre said in a statement responding to those claims that “the outreach and enthusiasm to attend, participate, and speak at this historic midterm convention has been incredible.”

“Republicans across the country are rallying behind President Trump’s America First agenda that’s brought lower drug prices, lower taxes, and a secure border, and this convention will provide the momentum needed to expand our majorities in November,” she added.