Secretive Vance-aligned donor network draws GOP power players in Dallas

DALLAS — A secretive donor network closely aligned with Vice President Vance drew Cabinet members, lawmakers and major GOP donors to a "cowboy-chic" bar here Tuesday night for a marquee pre-party ahead of the Republicans' midterm convention.

Why it matters: The donor group, Rockbridge, has become an influential hub for conservative donors and operatives as Vance prepares for a likely run for the White House in 2028.

Inside the room: Between 200 and 250 people attended the private welcome reception at The Rustic.

• Attendees included Dallas businessman and major GOP donor Ray Washburne, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HUD Secretary Scott Turner, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Trump 2024 co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, former Trump White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, investor Hal Lambert and professional bareback rider Rocker Steiner.
• Several other major GOP donors also attended. A source described the reception as the place to be for the party's donor class as Republican heavyweights converged on Dallas for President Trump's midterm convention.

Trump is holding the two-day convention, which starts Wednesday, in part to defend his record as president — and bash Democrats — at a time when his low approval ratings threaten to be a significant drag on Republicans in the Nov. 3 elections.

• While Trump's hold on the Republican Party remains solid, many GOP candidates are staying away from Dallas and distancing themselves from him in their campaigns.

The big picture: Tuesday's reception wasn't a fundraiser. But it kicked off a lucrative week for Republicans, who are holding a series of big-money donor events.

• On Wednesday, Trump will host a Republican National Committee fundraiser where the price of admission to a "roundtable" is $250,000 per person, according to an invitation obtained by Axios. A photo with Trump will cost $88,600.

Zoom out: Rockbridge was founded in 2019 by Vance and investor Chris Buskirk.

• The organization's events have drawn prominent Republican donors — many of them with close ties to Silicon Valley, including Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, investor David Sacks and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.
• Turnout for America, a super PAC tied to the Rockbridge network, has announced plans to invest $50 million to try to boost voter turnout for GOP candidates in November.