Several Republican senators say they will not attend GOP convention as COVID-19 cases in Florida spike

Several top Republican lawmakers said they would skip the Republican National Convention as coronavirus cases climb in Florida, where President Donald Trump is set to accept the party's nomination in August before a large crowd.

The RNC backed out of Charlotte, North Carolina, last month and picked Jacksonville as the main site for the convention after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles wouldn't commit to allowing a full convention because of health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On a Monday conference call with local reporters, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, at age 86 the oldest Republican senator, said he would avoid the convention "because of the virus situation."

Grassley said he has attended every RNC since he was elected to the Senate in 1980.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who is retiring at the end of the year, said Tuesday through a spokesperson he would not be attending the convention.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, "does not plan to attend the convention at this time," spokesperson Karina Borger told USA TODAY.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said through a spokesperson to USA TODAYthat she would not be attending the convention because it was her custom not to attend the convention in years she was up for reelection.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, "won’t be attending the RNC convention,” spokesperson Arielle Mueller told USA TODAY.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told local reporters at the end of June he would make a decision depending on the virus situation.

"We'll see where we are in late August," Portman said at the time. "If I go, I'm going to go taking precautions."

On Tuesday, Sen. Joni Ernst told reporters she also is planning to attend, though it would likely be "one day in and out."

"But that may change," she said. "We certainly need to monitor what's going on on the ground."

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told reporters in the Capitol on Thursday he was "probably not" going to the RNC.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to say whether he would attend.

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