Ben Carson released the two Nevada delegates he won in the state’s caucus, allowing them to vote for the candidate of their choosing at the Republican National Convention in July.
The retired neurosurgeon only won about 5 percent of the Silver State’s vote on February 23, which proportionally awarded him two of Nevada’s 30 GOP delegates. Since Carson dropped out of the Republican primary in early March, he endorsed businessman Donald Trump and has repeatedly appeared on the campaign trail with him.
Carson first sent a letter to the Nevada Republican Party last Friday, asking for his to delegates to be released. After leaving the race, Carson was given the option of releasing his delegates or allowing the Nevada GOP to distribute them proportionally.
While these two delegates could help put Trump over the top to reach the necessary 1,237 delegates, Ted Cruz could also make a play for them, as he has had success winning over unbound delegates in his attempt to force a contested convention.
Trump currently has 996 delegates in the primary process, compared to Cruz’s 565.
