With the Republican National Convention approaching, the specter of a brokered convention looms like a mysterious cloud over the Presidential race. There’s been a lot of talk over not just who will have the most delegates beforehand, but if and how each state’s delegates could change sides. Here’s a rundown of the rules for Alaska, and how it impacts the overall situation.
How many delegates are there? 28 delegates were up for grabs in the state caucuses.
How many did each candidate win? Ted Cruz won 12, Donald Trump has 11, and Marco Rubio, who dropped out of the race, has five.
Who are they? Delegates are typically active party members or local leaders. Each state also has three delegates who are members of the Republican National Committee.
At what point can delegates switch candidates? In Alaska, delegates are bound to their candidates for the first two ballots at the convention. If the nomination has not been decided after two rounds of voting, then if a delegate’s pledged candidate is the one who received the fewest votes in the second round or any subsequent round, they no longer have to support that candidate.
What effect could this have on the convention? Most states release delegates from their candidates after the first ballot, making Alaska’s delegates particularly important. While many delegates will be fair game for the various campaigns to pursue after one round of voting, each candidate can count on their delegates from Alaska for a second ballot.
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