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 Georgia, and how it impacts the overall situation.
How many delegates are there? 76
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? Donald Trump won 42 delegates, Ted Cruz has 18, and Marco Rubio, who has since dropped out, has 16.
At what point can delegates switch candidates? Georgia’s delegates are bound to their respective candidates through the first ballot of the convention. If no nominee has been declared after the first round of voting, they will then be able to support whichever candidate they choose.
What effect could this have on the convention? With 76 delegates able to change sides after just one round of voting, a large gap between Trump and Cruz, and a significant chuck tied to Rubio, a lot can happen at the convention. If Trump’s delegates jump ship, that could be a huge swing in Cruz’s favor. At the same time, Trump could add to his stockpile if he can sway Cruz’s and Rubio’s delegates to join his camp, while retaining the ones already with him.
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