When President Obama enters the House chamber to give his final State of the Union address on Tuesday, one of the three Republican presidential candidates in Congress will be missing.

Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas) will skip the president’s address, opting instead to head to New Hampshire where he hasn’t campaigned since November, a Cruz campaign spokesman confirmed.

The three remaining candidates — Sens. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioFlorida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (R-Fla.), Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill MORE (R-Ky.) and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) — will attend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler told The Hill that the Texas senator will be "disappointed" by the president's speech regardless of where he'll be. “It won’t matter because he’ll be just as disappointed in New Hampshire as he will be in the chamber.”

“It’s not a snub. He’s going to be in New Hampshire, working hard to win New Hampshire,” Tyler told The Dallas Morning News. "No disrespect. It just is going to work out this way.”

Cruz, who leads in Iowa GOP polls, trails in New Hampshire in third place – behind Rubio by more than 2 points and behind GOP front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE by almost 16 points, according to RealClearPolitics averages.

Skipping the annual address will is not likely to hurt a Republican candidate with primary voters, said Dan Schill, an associate professor at James Madison University who teaches about media and politics.

“I don't think it will necessarily turn off too many primary voters in New Hampshire and Iowa, but there is that risk,” he said.

Schill added, “The choice to stiff the speech can send a message it’s time for change. It may also backfire for people who see it as not respecting office of the presidency.”

For those who will attend, each receives two tickets, one for themselves and one for a guest.

Schill said State of the Union that who a member of Congress brings as a guest to the State of the Union can often be a “news strategy” to help boost a policy the lawmaker cares about and “make it come to life.”

“It’s a way to try to get journalists to write about their guest and their campaign,” Schill said, adding that it also can “personalize and dramatize issues that a candidate cares about.”

In 2013, Rep. Steve Stockman Stephen (Steve) Ernest StockmanInmates break windows, set fires in riot at Kansas prison Wife of imprisoned former congressman cites COVID-19 risk in plea to Trump for husband's freedom Consequential GOP class of 1994 all but disappears MORE (R-Texas), for example, invited outspoken musician and gun right supporter Ted Nugent to attend in anticipation of Obama's remarks on the issue of guns.

And last year, Rubio invited the daughter of a Cuban activist to highlight Rubio’s opposition to Obama’s decision to ease relations with Cuba.