Majority of GOP senators to attend Trump convention

A majority of Senate Republicans will be attending the party’s national convention in Cleveland this month, despite the reservations that many of them have about Donald TrumpDonald TrumpNewsom touts victory over recall as rejection of 'Trumpism' Newsom easily beats back recall effort in California Second senior official leaving DHS in a week MORE.

A survey by The Hill found that 32 Senate Republicans plan to attend the convention in Cleveland later this month, while 18 will skip it. Four Republican senators said they had not yet decided.

Only two senators facing competitive races in the fall will attend: Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanOvernight On The Money — Presented by Wells Fargo — GOP senator: It's 'foolish' to buy Treasury bonds Senate lawmakers let frustration show with Blinken McConnell: Republicans 'united in opposition to raising the debt ceiling' MORE (Ohio) and Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrNC Republican primary key test of Trump's sway The 19 GOP senators who voted for the T infrastructure bill Senate votes to end debate on T infrastructure bill MORE (N.C.).

Portman will spend most of his time away from the main show, focusing on campaign events such as building a Habitat for Humanity home for a family in need and kayaking on the Cuyahoga River to help war veterans.

Burr said he would be at the convention only briefly.

Two vulnerable GOP incumbents, Sens. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonGOP senator: Buying Treasury bonds 'foolish' amid standoff over debt ceiling, taxes Internal poll shows Barnes with 29-point lead in Wisconsin Democratic Senate primary Wisconsin Democratic Senate candidate facing 4 felony charges MORE (Wis.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.), told The Hill in April that they anticipated going to the convention. In the past week they said their plans had changed.   

Trump’s stock in the Senate took a hit a month ago when he criticized an Indiana-born federal judge as unfit to preside over a lawsuit against Trump University because of his Mexican heritage.

Republican lawmakers are growing increasingly skeptical about Trump’s ability to win, especially after his latest campaign finance report revealed he had only $1.3 million cash on hand.

But the convention offers lawmakers a valuable chance to meet with donors and activists who can be helpful in the future. Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzOcasio-Cortez defends attendance of Met Gala amid GOP uproar Hawley pledges to slow walk Biden's Pentagon, State picks over messy Afghanistan exit Canada's Conservatives show how dangerously skewed US politics have become MORE (Texas), who could run for president again in four years, will be in Cleveland to thank supporters and has been given a speaking slot.

The most active participants at the convention include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOvernight On The Money — Presented by Wells Fargo — GOP senator: It's 'foolish' to buy Treasury bonds Overnight Health Care — Nicki Minaj stokes uproar over vaccines Manchin-McConnell meet amid new voting rights push MORE (Ky.) and Sen. Thom TillisThomas (Thom) Roland TillisWithout major changes, more Americans could be victims of online crime How to fix the semiconductor chip shortage (it's more than manufacturing) The 19 GOP senators who voted for the T infrastructure bill MORE (N.C.), who will serve as delegates, and Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsOvernight Hillicon Valley — Apple issues security update against spyware vulnerability Stanford professors ask DOJ to stop looking for Chinese spies at universities in US Overnight Energy & Environment — Democrats detail clean electricity program MORE (Ala.), an early Trump supporter who will chair the Alabama delegation.     

“An awful lot of political activists important in their home states are there. To pass up the convention means missing an opportunity to get connected to people who might be important in the future,” said Steven S. Smith, a political science professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“There are some risks in going and being associated with a presidential candidate who may still go down in flames,” he said. “You can lay low. You don’t have to look for photo opportunities with Donald Trump.”

Democrats are using Trump, the GOP’s presumptive nominee for president, as their primary attack against Republican candidates.

“Whether or not they’ll be in Cleveland, Republican senators continue to support Trump’s bigoted and divisive candidacy, align with him on many of his out-of-touch policies, and are still holding a Supreme Court seat for him to fill,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Sam Lau.