--- description: Many Republican lawmakers are planning to skip the GOP National Convention in a move possibly meant to distance themselves from candidates. title: Top Republicans Consider Skipping GOP National Convention image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt637d5a3ee1e27019/69888ed1524fc049eadf78c2/republican-national-convention.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2016 Election](/tag/2016-election/) ## 2016 Election Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Top Republicans Consider Skipping GOP National Convention  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 12, 2016 8:27 PM CUT  Balloons fall from the ceiling following President George W. Bush's speech accepting his party's nomination on the final night of the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Sept. 2, 2004. Balloons fall from the ceiling following President George W. Bush's speech accepting his party's nomination on the final night of the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Sept. 2, 2004.Alex Wong—Getty Images  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 12, 2016 8:27 PM CUT Several GOP lawmakers — including many who are seeking re-election — are [planning to skip the Republican National Convention](http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/republican-convention-2016/index.html "undefined") in a move possibly meant to distance themselves from the eventual presidential nominee and the chaos plaguing the party. Many high-profile Republicans, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, told CNN that they do not intend to attend the [convention in Cleveland](http://time.com/4260668/republican-convention-contested-super-tuesday-donald-trump-delegates/?iid=sr-link2 "undefined") this summer. The decision comes after Republican presidential frontrunner [Donald Trump](http://time.com/4252010/donald-trump-convention-republican/ "undefined") warned of riots breaking out if he’s denied the nomination and amid fears that being tied too closely to the candidates could harm re-election chances. Some legislators have chosen to campaign in their own districts than attend the convention, CNN reports. “I’m more valuable outside of Cleveland than inside of Cleveland,” Sen. Richard Burr, who is up for re-election in North Carolina and is considering skipping out on the convention, told the news outlet. \[[_CNN_](http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/republican-convention-2016/index.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4291397/republican-national-convention/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4291397/republican-national-convention/"},"headline":"Top Republicans Consider Skipping GOP National Convention","datePublished":"2016-04-12T20:27:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T09:29:03.144Z","description":"It would distance themselves from the presidential candidates","url":"https://time.com/4291397/republican-national-convention/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election topic"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt637d5a3ee1e27019/69888ed1524fc049eadf78c2/republican-national-convention.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Chan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-chan/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt637d5a3ee1e27019/69888ed1524fc049eadf78c2/republican-national-convention.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"GOP Convention Concludes","caption":"Balloons fall from the ceiling following President George W. 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