Report: RNC dissuades candidates from attending Family Leader event

State of play: The Evangelical group's "Thanksgiving Family Forum" is scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Marriott in downtown Des Moines.

• The Family Leader, led by Bob Vander Plaats, invited GOP presidential candidates to gather and speak on issues important to Christian voters.

• Invites were sent to former President Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tim Scott. It's the third election cycle the group has held the Thanksgiving event.

Yes, but: The candidates were warned in a letter from the RNC that the forum was considered an unsanctioned "debate," per RealClearPolitics.

• Attending would result in being disqualified from participating in any future RNC-sanctioned Republican primary debates.

Between the lines: Multiple campaigns told RCP "they feel stuck in the middle of an ugly argument between a kingmaker in Iowa and GOP leadership."

What's next: It's unclear if any of the candidates will show up to the event.