CPAC opens amid challenges to event's status as conservatives' most influential annual jamboree

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference begins in earnest on Thursday with a full slate of big name politicians, candidates and celebrities gathering just outside the nation's capital.

For decades the leading conservative jamboree on the yearly political calendar, CPAC opens this year amid several challenges, including Republican infighting, a rival big-name donor event in Palm Beach, and the 2024 race for the White House already underway. 

This year's event will feature main-stage speeches from former President Donald Trump, who has officially begun his 2024 reelection effort, and two rivals who have also declared their candidacies — former Trump administration U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.  

Other conservative luminaries confirmed to be attending include: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), conservative commentator Candace Owens and Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). 

CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp suggested earlier this week that this year’s event will focus on holding the Republican-controlled House to its 2022 campaign promises on a range of make-or-break issues, including border security, fiscal responsibility and investigative oversight of the Biden administration. 

"It's about the Republicans in the House offering hope that getting the majority can make a difference," he told Just the News earlier this week. "So they have to actually be fighting on spending and fighting on some policy goals like closing this border with Biden. If we come out of all those negotiations with nothing, I think it'll be destructive towards our ability to build a coalition together for 2024." 

Conspicuously missing from the event will be another potential 2024 White House candidate, Florida's GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will instead be attending the rival Club for Growth's private retreat for donors, hosted in his home state. 

Trump was reportedly not invited to the group's retreat at The Breakers luxury resort, which is not far from the former president's residence at Mar-a-Lago.

The group has made clear its desire to move beyond Trump, who has responded with slashing criticism of the organization. 

"The Club For NO Growth, an assemblage of political misfits, globalists, and losers, fought me incessantly and rather viciously during my presidential run in 2016," he posted on Truth Social last month. "They said I couldn't win, I did, and won even bigger in 2020, with millions of more votes than '16, but the Election was Rigged & [Stolen]."

Just the News' attempt to reach the group late Wednesday afternoon was unsuccessful.

Another cloud hanging over CPAC this year involves a sexual battery allegation against Schlapp, which he has vehemently denied. Schlapp is facing a lawsuit filed by a GOP campaign staffer who alleges Schlapp fondled him without consent in October after a day of campaigning in Georgia.

Despite the challenges facing a potentially divided GOP as the curtain rises on this year's CPAC, Schlapp sounded an optimistic note about 2024. 

"I think we have a great chance in 2024 to take back the White House, which unfortunately has become the epicenter of everything," he said. "The White House holds almost all the power. If you don't have it, you can't get anything done. We need to get that place back."

You can follow Nick on Twitter @NGivasDC