GOP Members Opt Out of House Retreat Amid Location and Social Discomfort

Many Republicans are choosing not to attend the House GOP retreat due to concerns about the location and spending time together. Tensions remain high within the party following the recent speakership drama.

According to a GOP source, fewer than 100 Republicans have confirmed their attendance for the retreat, which is less than half of the total conference members.

The retreat is set to happen on Wednesday and Thursday in West Virginia.

Republicans have given various reasons for not attending publicly, such as needing to focus on reelection campaigns or having scheduling conflicts. For instance, GOP Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina is scheduled to be on “Real Time with Bill Maher” later this week. When asked if he would attend, GOP Rep. Kelly Armstrong from North Dakota replied to CNN: “No way, I have to run for governor.” Furthermore, Rep. Tim Burchett from Tennessee jokingly said: “I don’t retreat, I move forward! I got a farm to run.”

But privately, some Republicans have expressed dissatisfaction with the venue choice for the retreat. Speaker Mike Johnson chose the Greenbrier Resort because he believed it was more "family friendly," a departure from previous retreats held in sunny Florida, which was favored by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Other GOP lawmakers and aides have also shared that they are not particularly excited about the prospect of gathering with their party members. This comes at a time when internal conflicts within the Republican party have hindered their ability to even pass procedural votes.

In a unique turn of events, fiery GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida will be appearing at a rally in Texas on Thursday to show his support for Brandon Herrera, a far-right candidate who is running against GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales.

Adding to the challenges of the event, it has been reported that the House GOP's keynote speaker, Fox Business Host Larry Kudlow, had to cancel at the last minute. In his place, Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will be stepping in.

Some Republicans, such as Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, Reps. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, and Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio, have chosen not to attend the retreat. Rep. Green is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, while Reps. Johnson and Bice are co-chairs of the Main Street Caucus, and Rep. Joyce is the chairman of the Republican Governance Group.

Editor's P/S:

The House GOP retreat has become a microcosm of the deep divisions within the Republican Party. The low attendance and reluctance of members to spend time together reflect the ongoing tensions that have plagued the party since the speakership drama. The choice of venue and the absence of a keynote speaker further underscore the lack of unity and the challenges facing the party.

The dissatisfaction with the retreat's location and the scheduling conflicts cited by some members suggest that personal priorities and political calculations are taking precedence over party cohesion. The decision by Rep. Gaetz to attend a rally for a far-right candidate against a fellow Republican further highlights the internal divisions and the potential for further fractures within the party. These factors collectively paint a bleak picture of the state of the Republican Party and its ability to govern effectively in the current political climate. conflict. The upcoming rally in Texas featuring fiery GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz further underscores the fractured nature of the Republican Party, as it pits one member against another in a primary race.