Elections

North Dakota GOP Delegate Slate Shows Majority Support Cruz

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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Around 18 of the 25 North Dakota GOP delegates slated to go to the Republican National Convention this summer were on a list the Cruz camp asked North Dakota GOPers to support, according to reports, but some argue at least a plurality of the delegates support the Trump and Kasich campaigns.

“I’m thrilled to have the vote of confidence of Republican voters in North Dakota who delivered such a resounding victory today. As I met them over the weekend, North Dakota Republicans recognized that I am the only candidate who can move this country forward by protecting freedom and liberty. Whether we defeat Donald Trump before the convention or at it, I’m energized to have the support of the vast majority of North Dakota delegates,” Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore] said in a statement Sunday night.

All 25 delegates are unbound and can change their minds on the candidate they are supporting at any time between now and the convention. Additionally, CNN reports that the Trump and Kasich campaigns say the final unbound delegate list is favorable towards them. Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski tweeted out victory message in North Dakota to his followers.

North Dakota is one of two states that does not hold party preference polls during the primary season and instead chooses their candidates at their state convention.

The 25 delegates below are the final slate the North Dakota GOP will send to Cleveland:

1.Rick Becker             2.Jack Dalrymple

3.Shane Goettle         4. Wayne Stenejhem

5.Jim Poolman          6.Dick Dever

7.Bette Grande          8.Wesley Belter

9.David Hogue          10.Jessica Unruh

11.Betsy Dalrymple  12.Ben Koppleman

13.Roscoe Streyle      14.Mark Owens

15.Gary Emineth       16.Janne Myrdal

17.John Trandem      18.Clare Carlson

19.Scott Louser          20.John Olson

21.Bob Wefald           22.Kelly Schmidt

23.Judy Estenson      24.James Kerian

25.Daniel Traynor

The delegates were chosen from a pool of 74 nominated delegates. The Cruz camp initially found itself fighting against the tide when the convention voted down a request to reveal the candidate allegiances of all the potential delegates vying to go to Cleveland this summer, Politico reported.

“This campaign is coming down to a ground game battle for delegates.  We will fight for every last delegate vote all the way to Cleveland.  We are committed to making sure Donald Trump is not the Republican nominee and that the GOP wins the White House this fall with a principled conservative. Republicans at the North Dakota Convention rejected Trump, just like the entire Republican base will do this summer in Cleveland,” said Brian Baker, senior advisor for Our Principles PAC (OPP), an anti-Trump PAC that was on the ground in Fargo during the convention.

The PAC, according insiders, spoke with convention attendees and advocated for a slate of “not-Trump” delegates. This effort included a team of volunteers who handed out over one thousand voter guides and other materials on Trump.  Additionally, OPP engaged in an “aggressive” mobile ad campaign and phone bank operation aimed at each North Dakota State Convention attendee.

Dick Dever, a state senator who appeared on the North Dakota party slate, said Saturday he preferred Kasich, but that “the verdict is still out” on who he could “possibly” decide on the day of the convention, NBC News reported.

Additionally, the Trump campaign received the endorsement of North Dakota’s only Congressman, Republican Rep. [crscore]Kevin Cramer[/crscore], who has been lobbying delegates on behalf of the Trump campaign.

The Cruz team on the ground in Fargo, led by North Dakota GOPer Bette Grande, found a way around the failed request and circulated sheets of paper listing Cruz’s supporters at the convention. One GOP insider who was at the convention Sunday night told The Daily Caller that Cramer’s endorsement of Trump “had relatively little” impact on the final slate’s outcome, and that Trump’s “efforts were not as successful as [Cruz’s] efforts.”

 

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