Who's Not Going to the Republican Convention? [LIST]

Donald Trump and the RNC are having trouble finding speakers for the Republican convention that kicks off July 18 in Cleveland, Ohio...

Granted, Trump made it a bit harder to find orators. He threatened to keep those who are not in favor of him from taking speaking slots at the gathering, reported The New York Times on Sunday.

On Monday, Politico published a report gauging 50 party members' interest in speaking at the impending GOP convention.

Only a few said they were open to it. "Everyone else said they weren't planning on it, didn't want to, or weren't going to Cleveland at all," the news outlet reported.

Yes, that's right: Some party members -- including big-name Republicans -- have opted out.

We've compiled a shareable list of who's not going to the Republican convention in 2016.

But first, here's a closer look at the reasons 10 prominent GOPers have dropped out...

Why These 10 Big-Name Republicans Say They Won't Attend Convention 2016

1. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC): Mulvaney is a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He said in an interview with CNN on April 12 that, after discussing his plans with about 20 other conservatives‎ in recent days, roughly half of them advised him not to attend. His ultimate reason: "Let the activists, let the people decide" who the nominee will be, rather than the politicians.

2. Former GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: This comes as no surprise from the 2012 GOP standard bearer. Romney has been one of Trump's chief critics through the entirety of the 2016 presidential race thus far. He delivered a scathing, point-by-point indictment of the real estate mogul in March, criticizing everything from his business record to his character to his divisive campaign rhetoric. On May 5, a Romney aide confirmed to The Washington Post that the former governor of Massachusetts would not attend the convention this July, but gave no specific reasons why.

3. Former U.S. President George W. Bush: George W. spokesman Freddy Ford told The Hill on May 6 that the most recent Republican president "does not intend to attend" the convention in Cleveland. Ford also told The Associated Press that same day that Bush does "not plan to participate in or comment on" the presidential race as a whole.

4. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): On May 6, Graham said, "I... cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative, nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as commander in chief," reported TIME magazine. The South Carolina senator also said he wouldn't be attending the convention.

5. Trey Gowdy (R-SC): Gowdy, who is overseeing the congressional Republican investigation into Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's handling of the attacks on Benghazi, told Politico on Monday that he is not going. "I'm taking my family to the beach instead," he said.

6. Jeff Flake (R-AZ): Flake told a Town Hall reporter on Tuesday that he won't be at the convention because... he'll be mowing his lawn. What a flake-out.

7. Elise Stefanik (R-NY): Stefanik helped write the GOP platform at the 2012 convention and is president of "American Maggie," a website for conservative women to share their views online about politics and public policy. Politico reported that she will not be attending the gathering in July. Instead, Stefanik "will be in her district working for her constituents."

8. Mia Love (R-UT): According to Politico on Monday, Love stated that she does not see "any upsides to" attending the convention and hasn't officially endorsed Donald Trump yet. She said she will be visiting Israel instead.

9. Ben Sasse (R-NE): Sasse, the brashest detractor of Donald Trump in the GOP party and the only senator on the Hill to actually join and promote the #NeverTrump movement, will not be attending the convention. Surprise! We don't have to guess what his reasons are.

10. Roy Blunt (R-MO): Blunt is the fourth-ranking senate Republican. He will not be in attendance at the convention this year due to a closer than expected re-election campaign in his home state.

Now here's a shareable full roster of who's not going to the Republican Convention...

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Who's Not Going to the Republican Convention This Year

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Related Articles:

• Politico: Hardly Anybody Wants to Speak at Trump's Convention
• The Hill: George W. and George H.W. Bush to Skip GOP Convention
• CNN: Election 2016: Top Republicans May Skip GOP Convention
• TIME: Lindsey Graham Won't Support Donald Trump or Attend Republican Convention