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Some Arizona Republican Candidates Skip Trump’s Republican Convention Amid Political Tensions
Confirmed
In Short: Not all Arizona Republican candidates are attending the Republican National Convention this week, with some choosing to stay away amid political tensions and low approval ratings.
The Republican Party is trying to energize its voters this week with a rare mid-term convention headlined by President Donald Trump, but not every Republican candidate running in a contested race is planning to be there.
In Arizona, a couple of high-profile candidates in key races are choosing to skip the event, while others are actively engaging in the convention.
Former professional football kicker Jay Feely, the Republican candidate running in Arizona’s other swing district, is traveling to Dallas as a keynote speaker, arguing that Republican leadership requires active engagement and visibility.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, most Republicans in top offices or seeking them are skipping the national party convention or are reluctant to say if they will attend, with some candidates like Emmer set to speak at the event.
Background
The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the Republican Party in the United States. They are administered by the Republican National Committee.
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- Similarly, Rep. Juan Ciscomani is steering clear of the Texas convention.
- At the center of this dynamic are three of Arizona’s most pivotal and closely watched races: the governor’s race and the state’s two key congressional swing districts, which could tip the balance of power in Washington D.C.
- Coughlin pointed to the president’s low approval ratings, persistent inflation and foreign policy concerns, such as the conflict in Iran, as liabilities for candidates trying to appeal to moderate and independent voters in general election matchups.
- MPR News contacted several GOP campaigns about whether the candidate will attend the convention that begins Wednesday and concludes with a primetime speech from Trump on Thursday.
- The Republican National Committee announced over the weekend that Emmer is on the list of convention speakers, and the House GOP is hosting a series of major fundraisers during the convention’s run.