DALLAS — A secretive donor network closely aligned with Vice President Vance drew Cabinet members, lawmakers and major GOP donors to a "cowboy-chic" bar here Tuesday night for a marquee pre-party ahead of the Republicans' midterm convention. Why it matters: The donor group, Rockbridge, has become an influential hub for conservative donors and operatives as Vance prepares for a likely run for the White House in 2028. Inside the room: Between 200 and 250 people attended the private welcome reception at The Rustic. Attendees included Dallas businessman and major GOP donor Ray Washburne, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HUD Secretary Scott Turner, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Trump 2024 co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, former Trump White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, investor Hal Lambert and professional bareback rider Rocker Steiner. Several other major GOP donors also attended. A source described the reception as the place to be for the party's donor class as Republican heavyweights converged on Dallas for President Trump's midterm convention. Trump is holding the two-day convention, which starts Wednesday, in part to defend his record as president — and bash Democrats — at a time when his low approval ratings threaten to be a significant drag on Republicans in the Nov. 3 elections. While Trump's hold on the Republican Party remains solid, many GOP candidates are staying away from Dallas and distancing themselves from him in their campaigns. The big picture: Tuesday's reception wasn't a fundraiser. But it kicked off a lucrative week for Republicans, who are holding a series of big-money donor events. On Wednesday, Trump will host a Republican National Committee fundraiser where the price of admission to a "roundtable" is $250,000 per person, according to an invitation obtained by Axios. A photo with Trump will cost $88,600. Zoom out: Rockbridge was founded in 2019 by Vance and investor Chris Buskirk. The organization's events have drawn prominent Republican donors — many of them with close ties to Silicon Valley, including Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, investor David Sacks and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Turnout for America, a super PAC tied to the Rockbridge network, has announced plans to invest $50 million to try to boost voter turnout for GOP candidates in November.