A popular Republican dinner in Northern Kentucky was canceled at the last minute – prompting some Republicans to declare that voters are 'unenergized' after a divisive Trump-induced congressional primary.
The 4th District Lincoln Day Dinner was canceled just hours before it was slated to start in Independence on Sept. 18. Its organizer told The Enquirer the cancellation was unrelated to any GOP discord and blamed "trolls" for that narrative.
The annual event is a major Republican dinner that regularly brings together speakers and elected officials in Northern Kentucky, a Trump bastion.
Some Republicans there are still smarting from a bitter primary in May. President Donald Trump tapped former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to oust veteran Republican U.S.
Rep. Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary race in history.
Gallrein and supporters spent roughly $20 million to beat Massie, who regularly drew ire from Trump and other Republicans for not toeing the party line.
'Unenergized voting base'?
State Rep. Savannah Maddox, a longtime Massie supporter, wrote on social media about the canceled dinner: "It cannot be denied that this is a result of our congressional seat having been bought by outsiders."
"Voters are starting to see how badly they were tricked. And now? We’re left with a completely unenergized voting base in the 4th. No enthusiasm at all, barely enough breath to fog a mirror," the Dry Ridge Republican wrote.
More than 100 people commented on her post, primarily in agreement.
"Very hard right now to care about a Trump and McConnell GOP RINO party," wrote one. "Spot on," wrote another.
Organizer: 'I bit off more than I could chew'
This year's keynote speaker was slated to be U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Tompkinsville. Gallrein and state Sen. Chris McDaniels were among the event sponsors.
The day after after the sudden cancellation, the Republican Party of Kentucky's 4th District committee announced on social media that the dinner had been postponed until spring.
Casmir Thornberry, chairman of the committee, said about 70 people were expected to attend − about a dozen more than last year.
His goal was to have the biggest dinner ever at the Boone County Distilling Company. But it conflicted with other prominent local fundraising events, the venue was costly, and he wasn't sure the dinner would be successful.
"I just wanted more, and I think I bit off more than I could chew and I overcommitted," he told The Enquirer, adding that he took full responsibility for the event being canceled.
He didn't expect the social media storm around the cancellation, though.
"We would have had the event ... if I had known that it would be used as this political statement and the trolls online would have latched onto it," he said.
MAGA event also canceled
The dinner was the second major Republican event canceled this month. Firebrand Eric Deters canceled Freedom Fest Sept. 21, about five days before the event.
His patriotic, political event has previously drawn thousands of people to his Morning View farm in Northern Kentucky, about 25 miles south of Cincinnati.
Top MAGA personalities like Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Tomi Lahren, and others have spoken at the event over the past few years.
Deters said he had to cancel after only six people bought the $1,000 VIP tickets.
Thornberry: The GOP is doing just fine
Thornberry said claims that the Republican party is losing ground in Northern Kentucky are contradicted by the facts and have nothing to do with people's enthusiasm about candidates or the GOP.
For instance, dinner attendance was about the same as it was when Massie was booked as the keynote speaker, he said. About 300 people attended the Lincoln Day Dinner in Kenton County this year. And, most importantly, the featured candidates are all expected to win their elections this fall.
"I think it sort of flies in the face of the commentary that there is depressed interest in these races and depressed interest in the party," he said.
Have a news tip? Comment? You can reach Northern Kentucky reporter Jolene Almendarez at jolenea@usatodayco.com or follow her onsocial media. Keep up with Northern Kentucky news atNKY.com or by downloading ourNKY news app.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Canceled GOP dinner sparks talk of 'unenergized' voters
