Normally, CPAC events serve as an audition arena for the next slate of future Republican presidential contenders. Trump the headlinerOn Sunday, the conference is set to open with two men who just recently addressed a QAnon-affiliated conference : Texas GOP Chair Allen West, who has announced plans to challenge Greg Abbott in the Texas governor's race, and Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert. Also on the agenda: A presentation on the future of American elections, the second election fraud panel of the three-day conference. GOP lawmakers have also seized on the opportunity to push post-election audits, yet another way to undermine election confidence, raise money and curry favor with Trump. After the violence at the Capitol on January 6, federal officials are paying more attention to those sorts of fringe theories.

Source: CNN July 11, 2021 03:56 UTC