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 Arizona, and how it impacts the overall situation.
How many delegates are there? 58 delegates were up for grabs in the state primary.
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.
How many did each candidate win? Arizona is a winner-take-all state. Since Donald Trump won the primary, he has all 58 delegates.
At what point can delegates switch candidates? In Arizona, delegates are bound to their candidates for the first ballot at the convention. If the nomination has not been decided after one round of voting, all delegates are free to support any candidate they choose.
What effect could this have on the convention? Since Arizona is a winner-take-all state, releasing them could be a game-changer. Trump can count on 58 people to vote for him in the first ballot of the convention, but if no one is declared the nominee after that, he risks losing some or all of them to other candidates.
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