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 Idaho, and how it impacts the overall situation.
How many delegates are there? 32
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? Ted Cruz won 20 delegates and Donald Trump won 12.
At what point can delegates switch candidates? Idaho‘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? If there is a brokered convention, every delegate will count. If no nominee has been declared after the first ballot of voting, all 32 of Idaho’s delegates will be up for grabs. However, Idaho allows candidates to have some input into who the delegates are, so the ones they do have are more likely to stick with them.
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