Donald Trump’s operation in Tennessee says the Republican Party is trying to “steal” the state’s primary election after Trump won it.
On Super Tuesday, March 1, Trump won Tennessee, with 38.9 percent of voters to the 24.7 percent for Sen. Ted Cruz. The results won Trump 33 delegates. Cruz received 16 delegates.
But Trump’s team argues that the Tennessee Republican Party is interfering with the selection process of the delegates, the Tennessean reports.
“They’re picking anti-Trump people,” Darren Morris, Trump’s Tennessee state director said.
Around the country, Cruz’s campaign is working to win over delegates won by candidates who dropped out of the presidential race. They are also working to ensure that delegate elections which generally occur after the actual primary, elect delegates who will support Cruz on later ballots. Generally a delegate must vote for the candiate they are pledged to on at least the first ballot at the national convention. But many can later switch to other candiates. Cruz wants to assure he is that person.
GOP party officials are also working to name delegates who will support other candidates on later ballots. This activity is legal, but Trump’s campaign, seemingly out-organized at the state level, has loudly complained it is unfair.
“They’re picking establishment picks who don’t support Donald Trump, and it’s just the same effort that they’re conducting all over the country to steal a vote here, steal a delegate there, to affect the outcome of the convention in July and take the nomination away from Donald Trump,” Morris said.
“The party chair is a puppet. He is doing the bidding of the party establishment to take the nomination away from Donald Trump.”
The Tennessee Republican Party disputes Morris’s characterization.
“The TNGOP will fill out the remaining delegate spots consistent with our bylaws, state law, and the results of the March 1st Presidential Primary,” TNGOP executive director Brian Leatherwood said.
