On Saturday, National Account Director for MediaDC and DC Young Republican Richard Counts, was chosen among more than 125 candidates running to serve as a delegate to the 2016 convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Counts was the number one delegate, meaning he received the most votes at Saturday’s D.C. convention.
Counts spoke with Red Alert Politics, which is owned by MediaDC, about what his role means, and why he thinks he received the most votes.
Candidates endorsed a slate of delegates, with Counts being endorsed by the Rubio ticket. Rubio won the D.C. primary, with Kasich coming in a close second. Counts emphasized all the delegates elected were on the Rubio or Kasich slate.
The Rubio slate may have helped Counts, as he “rode the Rubio wave.” He also gained recognition by passing out voter information cards about himself. He included how he’s worked for The Weekly Standard and Washington Examiner, as well as his role as the chairman of the D.C. Young Republicans, which won the Young Republican State Federation of the Year award during his time. He was also the 2013-2014 YRNF Man of the Year and former YRNF Chief of Staff.
Counts also served as a delegate for the 2012 convention. In 2012, he was chosen by the Romney campaign. It was different in 2016, with D.C. voters choosing 16 delegates. Three are super delegates from the DC RNC. Counts has experience and youth. “A lot of people wanted new blood, but a lot of people wanted people with experience,” he said. “Having both might have helped.”
For the 2012 convention, Counts was interviewed by Northeastern University about his role as a delegate.
Counts is bound to vote for Rubio in the first round of voting at the convention. Since D.C. has a proportional primary, some delegates will vote for Kasich. If it’s a contested convention, Counts will be able to vote for any candidate in the second round of voting.
The 2012 convention wasn’t merely different in how the delegates were chosen. Counts spoke of how, in years past, the convention has “turned into a campaign kickoff for the general election.” This year however, if there is a contested convention, “it could actually turn into electing the candidate.” And Rich Counts will be a part of that.
