GOP skips Dallas convention as Iowa Republicans focus on local races

Republicans gearing up for November elections are skipping next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas in droves, with many citing district commitments and local priorities over the televised spectacle. The convention, the first held by a major party in more than four decades, is seeing a notable exodus as the party pushes through a final election sprint where control of Congress is at stake.

A POLITICO survey of more than 70 GOP candidates and members revealed most either do not plan to attend or are still weighing whether to go. Those opting out cited prior fundraising obligations, personal conflicts like weddings and family events, and qualms about the high fees party officials want attending members to pay.

Others in tough races are steering clear as they face growing hesitation about associating themselves with President Donald Trump, who is set to be a headline speaker along with Vice President JD Vance.

Why are Republicans skipping the Dallas convention?

Rep. Tom Barrett, a Michigan Republican, said he felt he'd be more useful in his district. Asked if the president's remarks might cause him problems back home, Barrett said:

I can't control what the president's going to say at the convention, but I can control where I'm at, what I'm doing.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole said he is not attending because he has a dove-hunting event back home in Oklahoma. Several northeastern members, including Reps. Chris Smith of New Jersey and Andrew Garbarino of New York, said they have commitments in their districts related to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Some members were more candid in their criticism. One House Republican not attending the convention, granted anonymity to speak openly, called it a waste of time and said event planning has been a mess. Another member pointed to the $25,000 fee being charged by party organizers.

I didn't want to go anyways. That made it easier, the member said of the cost.

Who is attending the GOP convention?

Most top House and Senate GOP leaders will be in attendance, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Some potential 2028 presidential contenders, including Sen. Ted Cruz, will also be there, as will Senate Republicans from marquee battleground races including Ohio Sen. Jon Husted. Sen. Bernie Moreno, who is expected to be the next Senate GOP campaign chair, is also planning to attend.

Johnson said he has been promoting the event but acknowledged Tuesday some members decided attending is not the best use of their time.

They've got to all make their own individual decision, Johnson said, adding it's critical time right before early voting begins nationwide.

What does this mean for Iowa Republicans?

For Iowa Republicans, the decision to skip the convention reflects a broader trend of prioritizing local engagement over national spectacle. With early voting beginning soon, many candidates are focusing on district-level concerns that matter most to voters, including agriculture, energy independence, and parental rights in education.

Iowa's congressional delegation has not publicly confirmed attendance plans, but the pattern among GOP members suggests a similar calculus may be at play. The state's conservative voters are likely to appreciate representatives who stay close to home during the critical final stretch of the campaign season.

House votes on Supreme Court amendment

The House will vote at 4 p.m. on legislation, including a resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to require that the Supreme Court be composed of nine justices. The Senate is out. House Rules will hold a 10 a.m. hearing on proposed changes to the standing rules of the House for the 120th Congress.

Jeffries weighs disciplining Democratic defectors

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he is weighing disciplinary action against two Democratic members who helped rescue Republicans' floor agenda for the week. Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez are being referred to the caucus' rules panel after their support resulted in a 210-208 vote that was enough to prevent GOP hard-liners from freezing floor business.

The decision by two of our colleagues to blindside the entire House Democratic Caucus and join with the Republican majority to pass a procedural rule on the brink of failing represents a significant breach of trust, Jeffries said in a statement with Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Voting for the rule is something that I, as Speaker, never. We didn't even consider that anybody would do that.

Golden told reporters Tuesday he backed the procedural step because it ultimately provided for later passage of a bill he cosponsored benefiting lobstermen in his home state.

Lawmakers ready bill to better police themselves

The bipartisan House lawmaker duo writing a bill to better police members accused of sexual misconduct are finalizing a draft and want floor time by the end of the month. Rep. Kat Cammack said leadership has been supportive and they hope to time it out for introduction and floor time in September.

Streamlining the misconduct reporting process, prohibiting members from having intimate relationships with staffers, and bolstering sexual harassment training are all areas that could be addressed in the first tranche. The second tranche would require candidates to disclose any prior sexual misconduct settlements before filing to run for office.

Data centers action divides GOP

Vulnerable House Republicans returned to Washington this week pushing for action before the midterms on reining in data centers, only to find their leadership still undecided on the volatile issue. The debate dividing the House GOP conference came up in multiple member discussions early this week, including a conversation that Johnson hosted Monday with freshman lawmakers.

Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie is pressing Johnson to schedule a vote this month on bipartisan legislation known as the Ratepayer Protection Act. The measure aims to curb the impact data centers have on the electrical grid, which Trump backs.

Congress warms to Trump's Hollywood tax plan

Trump picked up fresh bipartisan support Tuesday for a federal film tax credit plan, with one stakeholder estimating legislation could come within weeks. The measure would aim to revitalize the U.S. film industry after a decades-long exodus of shoots to other countries offering tax breaks.

Hospital lobbying jumps on cut fears

Hospitals are boosting their lobbying and protesting Trump administration cuts they say go further than what Congress intended in its One Big Beautiful Bill last year. Chris Mitchell, head of the Iowa Hospital Association, sees an opening after the midterms to influence the rules, when lawmakers who never voted for the cuts enter office.

My guess is there's going to be a lot of individuals in Congress who didn't vote for this thing in the first place, and I see that as a real opportunity to continue these discussions.

Russia sanctions vote hope

Supporters of a bipartisan bill to slap new financial penalties on Russia are hoping to get a vote on the House floor the third week of September. The Senate-passed bill is at risk of languishing in the House due to Democratic opposition, lack of Republican enthusiasm, and fading impetus to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.

What's next for Iowa voters?

As the midterm elections approach, Iowa voters should watch for how their representatives balance national party events with local priorities. The trend of skipping the Dallas convention suggests many Republicans are betting that showing up for their districts matters more than appearing at a national spectacle.

With early voting set to begin soon, the coming weeks will reveal which candidates made the right call.