Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore] plans to hold on to his delegates before the Republican National Convention in July and wants them to “support a constitutional conservative agenda” there, CNN reports.
Despite suspending his campaign last week following his Indiana primary loss, Cruz sent a letter to Republican state party committees in at least Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on Monday, telling them he wants the delegates he won to stay bound to him.
According to Kansas rules, delegates must stay with the candidate they are pledged to until that candidate releases them. Cruz’s delegates cannot vote another way unless Cruz allows them to do so.
“Although I have suspended my campaign for the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States, I do not release any Republican National Convention delegates bound to me as a result of the 2016 delegate selection process that took place in your state,” Cruz wrote in a letter, obtained by CNN, to Kansas GOP Chairman Kelly Arnold.
Oklahoma Republican Party chair Pam Pollard and the Texas Republican Party executive director Kyle Whatley received similar letters from the Texas senator, who left the race with 564 delegates.
“I encourage all delegates who supported my campaign — and who support a constitutional conservative agenda that will grow jobs, protect our freedoms, and ensure our security — to actively participate in shaping the Party platform and rules in a manner that will ensure our cause is advanced,” Cruz wrote to Arnold.
Florida Sen. [crscore]Marco Rubio[/crscore] announced last month he would not release his delegates either. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has not announced what he plans to do with his 153 delegates.