DeSantis, Pence will not attend CPAC 2023—Trump to give keynote speech

As the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is set to return to the Washington, DC area this week after spending the pandemic years in Orlando, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who are both being eyed for presidential runs in 2024, are not expected to attend.

DeSantis, who spoke at last year’s conference in Orlando, Florida, reportedly has "other plans" and will not be attending, according to News 4 Jax. A CPAC spokesperson told the outlet on Monday that the Florida Governor is currently not slated to attend the event. 

DeSantis is set to headline two Republican fundraisers in Texas on Saturday, and at a reception for the GOP of Orange County, California on Sunday.

Sources told ABC News that Pence has declined an invitation to the conference.

"It's a missed opportunity for any potential Presidential Candidate to not address the thousands of grassroots activists at CPAC this year. Luckily, CPAC attendees will get to hear from every announced Presidential candidate and over 100 premiere speakers, including over 30 elected officials," Megan Powers, a spokesperson for CPAC, told ABC News on Saturday.

Both former President Donald Trump and former Ambassador Nikki Haley, who have announced their runs for president, are scheduled to speak at the conference, with Trump giving the keynote address.