On October 1 of last year, 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia submitted finalized plans for how delegates would be chosen for the Republican National Convention. These plans were promptly circulated to all of the campaigns and the RNC held a briefing with over 100 members of the media in attendance laying out these plans the next day on October 2.
As a party,
we believe in the freedom of the states to make decisions about how they will
select delegates to the National Convention. And for decades, this
grassroots-driven, democratic process has been transparent and effective.
This cycle is
no different.
The rules
surrounding the delegate selection have been clearly laid out in every state
and territory and while each state is different, each process is easy to
understand for those willing to learn it.
It ultimately
falls on the campaigns to be up to speed on these delegate rules. Campaigns
have to know when absentee ballots are due, how long early voting lasts in
certain states, or the deadlines for voter registration; the delegate rules are
no different.
Whether
delegates are awarded through a primary, caucus, or convention, this process is
democracy in action and driven by grassroots voters across the country.
The RNC is
transparent about the rules and works with campaigns on a consistent basis to
address any questions surrounding the process. As we head into the final
contests in April, here is a rundown of those elections and how their delegates
will be selected:
WYOMING (29
DELEGATES)
Delegates in
Wyoming are elected at the grassroots level at the Wyoming State Party
Convention. Campaigns can organize supporters to run as delegates and those
candidates can be bound if they declare for a candidate.
NEW YORK (95
DELEGATES)
On April 19,
New York Republicans will go to the polls with 95 delegates at stake. Delegates
are awarded by congressional district and on an at-large basis. If a candidate
receives over 50 percent of the vote in a congressional district they win all
three of the at-large delegates in that district. Only those candidates who
receive more than 20 percent of the vote are eligible to receive delegates. The
delegates bound by the primary vote will then be elected by their peers at
grassroots congressional district meetings. The 11 at-large delegates to the
National Convention are voted on by the Republican State Committee at their
meeting on May 18.
APRIL 26th
STATES (172 DELEGATES)
CONNECTICUT
(28 DELEGATES)
Delegates are
submitted as slates by the candidates and are awarded on an at-large and
congressional district basis. At-large delegates are awarded proportionately for
all candidates who receive over 20 percent of the vote with all at-large
delegates awarded to a candidate if they break 50 percent. The plurality winner
of the congressional district vote wins all three delegates from the district.
Both the at-large and congressional are elected at the State Committee Meeting
on April 26.
DELAWARE (16
DELEGATES)
Delegates are
awarded on a winner-take-all basis and are voted on as a slate at the state
convention on April 29.
MARYLAND (38
DELEGATES)
Three
delegates for each candidate are elected directly on the ballot in each
congressional district and at-large delegates are voted on individually at the
State Central Committee meeting on May 14. Congressional district delegates are
winner-take-all by district vote, at-large delegates are winner-take-all by
statewide vote.
PENNSYLVANIA
(71 DELEGATES)
Pennsylvania
elects three delegates from each congressional district on the primary ballot
and the State Committee elects 14 at-large delegates at their meeting on May
21. Congressional district delegates are submitted by campaigns, though are
technically unbound. At-large delegates are winner-take-all based on the
statewide vote.
RHODE ISLAND
(19 DELEGATES)
Delegates are
elected directly on the ballot in the primary election. Delegates are awarded
proportionately on an at-large and congressional district basis with a 10
percent threshold.
For more
information and facts about the convention click here to see frequently asked questions about
delegates, the rules, and how the process works.
