The Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, has returned to Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2020. The conference, which will run until Saturday, will feature prominent conservative politicians such as former President Donald Trump, presidential GOP nominee hopefuls Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, and Rep. James Comer (R-KY), among others.
CPAC 2023: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH AS CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE RETURNS TO DC
The conference, which is billed as the largest gathering of conservative activists and usually features Republican presidential candidates, will give voters an early look at the GOP candidates for the 2024 presidential race.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are all scheduled to speak on Thursday.
Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and subcommittee for the weaponization of the federal government, started the new congressional session focusing on the political influence of the FBI and Department of Justice. He said on Wednesday that the DOJ was complying with a congressional subpoena for documents related to the committee’s investigation into the FBI’s investigation of parents protesting school board meetings.
Cruz told supporters on Feb. 13 that he intends to run for reelection in 2024 and will not seek a presidential bid, stating, “I’m on the ballot in 2024,” according to CBS News. He had declined to say whether or not he’d enter the presidential race and join Trump and Haley as GOP nominees in the past.
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Vance, who defeated former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) for the Senate seat in 2022, recently turned heads by introducing a bipartisan rail safety bill aimed at improving rail safety measures and imposing penalties if they are not met. He worked with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and other Democratic senators, stating, “One of the things I’ve learned here is that it’s very easy to disagree with people so long as you’re not an a**hole, and still get things done.”
Scott has come under scrutiny for his battle with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), whom Scott accused of removing him from the Commerce Committee for challenging him for the Republican leadership position last fall. McConnell has denied he “ousted” Scott, saying that Scott’s term limit on the committee was up.
