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Nancy Smith

How Florida Delegates to the Republican National Convention Will Be Chosen

March 22, 2016 - 7:00am
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland

Choosing 99 delegates to the Cleveland Convention July 18-21 is a fair process, but it's more involved than most people realize.

And this year, it could be particularly interesting.

RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, the man who best knows how the selection process works, told Sunshine State News Monday, "Florida has 99 winner-take-all delegates total. That means every one of the 99 are bound to Donald Trump for the first three ballots. But, if it goes to a fourth ballot,  the delegates are unbound and they don't necessarily have to vote for Mr. Trump." 

I Beg to DifferThat's what I mean by interesting.

"Believe me, all the candidates are lobbying hard right now to get their supporters seated as delegates on the floor at Quicken Loans Arena," Ingoglia said.

The delegate rules include this: "No later than one week after the presidential preference primary, each Republican presidential candidate whose name appeared on the ballot may submit a list of proposed delegates and alternate delegates from among that candidate’s supporters to be considered as candidates for election."

Here's how Ingoglia explained the selection process:

Of the 99 delegates, three are automatic delegates -- Ingoglia, party chair; Sharon Day, co-chair of the Republican National Committee; and Peter Feaman, national committeeman from Florida.

The rest of the 96 are tied to Florida's 27 congressional districts. Each congressional district is awarded three delegates and three alternate delegates chosen by the chair, state committeeman and state committeewoman of each county that comprises that congressional district.

As an example, look at CD 12. There are three counties in CD 12, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough. That means the chair, state committee woman and state committee man for each of those counties get to vote on the delegates (9 votes total) that apply to represent that district. And, there is no limit on how many people can apply to become a delegate. Delegate applicants then appear before the district's party leadership and make a short speech on their own behalf. A vote is then taken to choose the three delegates and three alternates.

"It doesn't matter if there are 10 counties within a congressional district or two," Ingoglia explained. "Each congressional district gets three delegates and three alternates."

Alternates attend the convention, just as delegates do, he said. They are seated and part of the convention. They can cheer, carry signs, talk up their candidates -- the only thing they can't do unless they're needed to "sub in" is vote.

When the selection is complete, there are 81 delegates (plus 81 alternates) from the 27 districts. Added to that are the three automatic delegates (Ingoglia, Day and Feaman), bringing the voting total to 84. 

What remains are 15 delegates and 15 alternates chosen as at-large delegates. 

Ingoglia said, "I submit a proposed list of possible at-large delegates to the executive board and that list is voted on by the board and announced to the membership at our quarterly meeting in May."

Ingoglia said he believes most wounds inflicted after his surprise election in 2015 have healed, and that the Senate in particular -- once so afraid of the new chairman's access to senators' funds its members pulled $800,000 out of the party coffers -- is helping the party deliver Florida to the Republican nominee. 

Party leaders say they remain hopeful Gov. Rick Scott, whose choice for RPOF chair was defeated, will return to his role as leader of party fundraising.

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith

Comments

Back in LIncoln's day and even Ford's day (Pre-computers) the delegate system may have been needed because of possible corruption and because tabulating million of votes would be time consuming and would possibly open up ways for corruption to set in. Delegates are not needed in this day and age and the popular vote should rule the day just like all congressional elections. The RNC should have a two person popular vote election and the winner takes all. The delegate system is is a crony system and a way to circumvent the will of the electorate! The Electoral College needs to be eliminated as well. It is not mob rule by rather popular vote my friend. The current delegate system is not only unfair but it should not be who we are.

The Republican National Committee, the Republican Party is a privately held organization. They do not even have to give "we the people" a vote in the selection of the parties' nominee at all. So there is no underground anything. I wish they would have just selected a candidate to begin with or at least just put two choices to the people. They could have done that too. There is nothing to worry about Trump has the cash to woe all the delegates from June to the end of July and he will woe them. Lavish trips to Mar-A-Lago will be had. I wish I was a delegate.

Ha ha I meant woo not woe

this easter season fast approaches blessing from the document and weighted in on jeb of florida to be president 2016 election is close. delegates at large access our vote. have a holy week ahead .

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nancy smith
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