Senate Republicans are set to gather at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate for a dinner ahead of a weekend campaign retreat. The dinner, confirmed by multiple sources, will be followed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) retreat in Florida, focusing on preparations for the 2026 midterm election cycle.
While most GOP senators will attend the dinner with Trump, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana will be absent, opting to spend time with his daughter who resides in the area. Cassidy, known for his past clashes with Trump over the Capitol riot conviction vote, is gearing up for re-election in 2026 and will participate in the NRSC retreat over the weekend.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Republicans face challenges in defending key seats in states like North Carolina and Maine, where Senators Thom Tillis and Susan Collins will be up for re-election. Simultaneously, the party aims to strengthen its Senate majority by targeting vulnerable Democrat-held seats in Georgia and Michigan.
Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia is gearing up for his first re-election bid in the swing state, while Michigan, already a battleground, sees Democratic Senator Gary Peters stepping down, creating an open seat that both parties will vie for in the upcoming election cycle.
