A conservative donor network co-founded by Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, is scheduled to gather just after the election in Las Vegas, according to an invitation seen by The New York Times.
The conference will be either a celebration or a wake.
The biannual summit of the collective, called the Rockbridge Network is scheduled to begin the night of Nov. 10 and run through the morning of Nov. 12. The conference is held twice annually, but the timing of Rockbridge’s second meeting this year, so close to the election, is sure to make the presidential vote the main topic of conversation.
That’s especially likely, given Rockbridge’s ties to Mr. Vance. He founded the group with a close political collaborator, Chris Buskirk, in 2019, and Mr. Vance has attended each of its summits. This fall summit is the first to be held since former President Donald J. Trump named Mr. Vance to the ticket. A Vance spokesman said he had no plans to attend the event.
The Rockbridge Network has emerged as a Silicon Valley-inflected, more MAGA-friendly donor network that is smaller than entities such as the American Opportunity Alliance or the Koch network, which also gather in person regularly. But Rockbridge’s connection to Mr. Vance has increased its profile, and Mr. Buskirk is now leading a prominent pro-Trump super PAC that is running a voter canvassing operation on his behalf that has been funded in part by Rockbridge members.
Rockbridge members commit to spending $100,000 a year on recommended programs, and the group now has over 150 members. Those who are new to the group and want to just sample the conference can donate $25,000 to attend.
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