Donald Trump

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Wilmington, Ohio.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

COLUMBUS, Ohio--Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's rally in Wilmington on Thursday attracted thousands of supporters. But almost every prominent Republican official in Ohio was nowhere in sight.

The only Ohio GOP officeholder to speak during Trump's rally was Ohio Senate President Keith Faber of Mercer County.

Such poor attendance isn't new: top Ohio Republicans have rarely joined Trump during his repeated visits to the Buckeye State.

Here's where other top Buckeye State Republicans were:

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman's campaign tweeted Thursday about Wilmington's job losses during the economic crisis.

Wilmington, Ohio lost 8,000 jobs when DHL closed during @Ted_Strickland’s term. Watch: https://t.co/lLT11UNZJ4 — Rob Portman (@robportman) September 1, 2016

But the senator himself, who has endorsed Trump but refused to commit to campaign with him, was in Toledo touring a BP refinery.

Steve Stivers, a Trump supporter who represents Wilmington in the U.S. House of Representatives, was on Ohio National Guard duty, according to a spokesman.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in the state on Thursday, though a spokeswoman declined to provide any additional details, citing security reasons. Kasich's absence comes as no surprise, however, given that he's refused to endorse Trump, who beat him in the GOP presidential primary.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who backs Trump, toured a foundry in Orrville and a manufacturing facility in Wooster, according to a spokesman.

I'd like to thank Quality Castings for hosting me at their foundry today. The Orville plant employs 350 in NE Ohio. pic.twitter.com/3QhqWpp80p — Mary Taylor (@MaryTaylorOH) September 1, 2016

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (the latter of whom represents Wilmington) were in Columbus at a Statehouse get-together of former Ohio House speakers.

It was great being w/ the current & former Rep. House Speakers today addressing a new generation of gov't leaders pic.twitter.com/8sgEXZYug2 — Jon Husted (@JonHusted) September 1, 2016

Rosenberger, who has backed Trump, also toured Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Husted, as the state's chief elections official, isn't allowed to endorse Trump, though he's said he'll vote for the billionaire businessman.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine was in Jackson, Ohio, to meet with the head of Elemetal, a refinery for scrap gold, according to a spokesman. DeWine has said he backs Trump.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who supports Trump, was in Steubenville on Thursday to add the city to his "Ohio Checkbook" transparency program.

Great to be in Steubenville adding them to https://t.co/zVPDLuYC9s. The movement continues!https://t.co/lUdCTJDpuB — Josh Mandel (@JoshMandelOhio) September 1, 2016

State Auditor Dave Yost was working in Columbus during Trump's rally, a spokesman said. Yost, after initially criticizing Trump, has said he plans to vote for him.

State Sen. Bob Peterson, whose district includes Wilmington, didn't immediately return an email Friday asking for his whereabouts on Thursday. His two legislative aides were not in the office Friday.