Which California Republicans are attending President Trump’s midterm convention?
Most of California’s eight Republicans in Congress are skipping the event.
Republican lawmakers and politicians from across the country are gathering in Dallas this week for a midterm convention called by President Donald Trump to energize the party and boost voter turnout.
Most of California’s eight Republicans in Congress, however, are skipping the event.
Two are going. Spokespeople for Southern California Rep. Ken Calvert and Central Valley Rep. Tom McClintock confirmed they are attending.
Three said they are not. North State Rep. James Gallagher’s spokeswoman confirmed he is not going. Rep. Young Kim, who is running against Calvert, and Bakersfield Rep. Vince Fong, through his spokesman, said they are not going.
Representative David Valadao’s campaign did not respond to KCRA 3’s inquiry.
Republican candidates in competitive U.S. House races, including Kevin Lincoln (who is running against Rep. Adam Gray) in the Central Valley and Jim Desmond in San Diego (who is running to replace Republican Rep. Darrell Issa) also did not reply.
A source familiar with the delegation’s logistics said Republicans running in tough races are choosing not to attend the convention. This comes as California Republicans work to retain seats that were redrawn to favor Democrats in the upcoming election.
Proposition 50, passed by California voters last fall, was promoted by Democratic state leaders as a way to counter President Trump. California’s new maps attempt to unseat five Republicans, including the districts held by Gallagher, Issa, and Valadao.
Reps. Calvert and Kim are fighting each other this November because Prop 50 essentially eliminated Calvert’s current district.
Sacramento area Rep. Kevin Kiley changed his party registration from Republican to Independent earlier this year.
Republican strategist Tim Rosales explained the reasoning behind some Republicans staying home instead of heading to the convention.
“I think the Republicans running in some of these battleground seats, they have to give independent voters a reason to vote for them. Voters are selfish. The challenge for Republicans and Democrats is to speak to that self-interest. The bigger macro messaging coming out of Dallas, that’s one thing, but being able to go to your local café, that’s what’s going to make the impact. That’s what the candidates ought to be doing at this time,” Rosales said.
President Trump has said the Dallas event is intended to ramp up enthusiasm for the Republican Party and increase turnout across the country.
In addition to members of Congress, California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin and State Sen. Tony Strickland are also attending the convention.
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