WASHINGTON — Alabama Republicans at the top of the ticket assembled in Dallas this week for an unusual midterm convention meant to boost President Donald Trump’s party during a tough election year, but most down-ballot GOP candidates in the state opted not to attend the two-day event.
State Rep. Rhett Marques, the Republican nominee for Congress in the newly-redrawn 2nd Congressional District, skipped the Dallas festivities to focus on campaign events in the Wiregrass on Thursday.
While U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, the GOP nominee to succeed U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, represented the state as a delegate in Texas. Unlike presidential conventions, delegates at the midterm event had no voting responsibility and held only honorary titles.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is aiming for the governor’s mansion, was also listed as a delegate on the Alabama Republican Party’s list and appeared at a kickoff event for the state’s delegation in Dallas. But it was unclear whether he attended the convention in the arena, as his team previously told the Daily Mail he no longer planned to attend due to campaign events. A spokesperson for Tuberville did not respond to Alabama Daily News’ request for comment Thursday.
The convention, dubbed “Trump-a-palooza,” served as a springboard for Republicans across the country to help their chances in the upcoming elections as the president’s party often loses seats in Congress during midterms.
Alabama GOP Party Chair Scott Stadthagen, who was at the convention, said it had been an “incredible few days in Dallas.”
“There’s a lot of energy and excitement among Republicans from across the country, but there’s also a real understanding that we have work to do between now and November,” Stadthagen told ADN in a statement.
“We’re all on the same team, and the focus is on winning these midterm elections and delivering President Trump a Republican Congress that will work with him to keep making America great. I’m proud of our Alabama delegation and the role our state continues to play in the Republican Party.”
Republicans under Trump face significant headwinds going into November, such as the war in Iran and economic uncertainty around tariffs. Recent polling, including a University of Massachusetts poll published last week, shows Democratic voters are also more enthusiastic about heading to the polls for the upcoming midterms compared to Republicans.
In a bid to energize his base and incentivize more Republican voters, the president pledged on Wednesday to send $5,000 to every American should Republicans win control of the House and Senate.
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said during his keynote speech at the convention. “I’m on the ballot.”
Flipping Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District red is critical for the GOP to maintain control of the House next year.
Marques, the Republican nominee in the race aiming to defeat incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, spent Thursday on the campaign trail. During a press conference in Enterprise, he announced a new endorsement for his campaign and launched a website.
“There was a time that we were planning on it, but events came up,” Marques told ADN about the midterm convention. “I wanted to make sure that I was here to get this endorsement and stand in front of the business that I ran for 24 years.”
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, who is running for Alabama’s only other open congressional seat this year in the newly reconfigured 1st District, also skipped the convention. The Mobile area district is a Republican stronghold. Carl had too many campaign events scheduled to make it to Dallas, his spokesperson told ADN.
Alabama Republican congressional candidates running for reelection also chose to stay and work in their districts during the recess week.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, had an event Thursday at Lakeland Community Hospital touting investments in rural hospitals. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, was back in central Alabama doing district work, his spokesperson confirmed.
Spokespeople for U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, couldn’t be reached for comment on whether or not they had chosen to attend the convention in Dallas.
But GOP statewide candidates such as Katherine Robertson, John Wahl and Caroleene Dobson and some state lawmakers were in Dallas and showed off their experiences at the convention on social media.
No Alabama Republicans had speaking slots at the convention, which were mostly reserved for the most vulnerable candidates this cycle.