California GOP changes primary rules, potentially benefiting Trump.

The California Republican ⁤Party Makes Primary Rule Change to Benefit Trump

The California⁤ Republican Party changed⁣ the way its primary operates on⁢ Saturday after its⁣ executive committee approved a plan⁢ widely considered to benefit former President Donald‍ Trump⁤ as he seeks the 2024 GOP nomination.

The rule change, reportedly backed by the Trump ‍campaign,​ will⁢ change how delegates are allocated to candidates for‍ the state’s primary contest. ⁤Critics argue⁤ the change could discourage other candidates from‌ campaigning in the‍ state,⁢ while proponents say the move will ‌draw them in.

“Today’s⁣ vote … was a massive victory⁣ for California‌ Republicans who⁣ are eager ​to‌ have a say in deciding who our Party’s 2024 presidential nominee will be,” Jessica Millan Patterson, the​ state party chair, said in a⁤ statement.

Under the new rule, any Republican candidate ‍who receives more than 50% of the vote will receive‍ all of⁤ California’s⁤ delegates — 169‍ in total,​ more than any other state, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, if​ no candidate reaches 50%, state delegates will be ⁢allocated proportionally based on how candidates performed in the statewide ​vote. The executive committee approved ‌the rule in a 53-16 vote.

The move will likely benefit former President Trump,‌ who consistently polls at or above 50% in the state‌ for the primary contest. According‌ to one unnamed executive committee member who spoke with a Trump campaign official, ⁣the former president’s campaign supported ⁣the plan because of his strong polling in the ⁢state, the L.A.⁣ Times reported.

Ken Cuccinelli, ‌founder of the⁣ pro-DeSantis‌ Never Back Down super PAC, blasted the new delegate allocation rule, calling it “asinine” ‌and‌ saying it​ doesn’t reflect the “will of or benefit voters‍ in any state.”

“Smoke-filled⁤ back⁤ rooms do not reflect ‌the⁢ will of or benefit voters in any state,” Cuccinelli said in a‍ statement. “Yet across the country games are afoot to enhance the potential outcome of primary elections for⁤ one former president who half ‍of ​the Republican electorate no ⁣longer wants as the party leader.”

Previously, three ⁣state delegates were awarded for each congressional ‌district a candidate won. This system encouraged candidates to compete in specific geographic areas rather than the entire state.‌ Jon Fleischman, director of⁣ the California GOP ‍when this ⁤rule was adopted over two decades ago, told‌ the L.A. Times that candidates don’t have an incentive campaign in the state under the⁣ new rules.

“The cost ⁢to advertise statewide is too great ‍and the impact of trying to motivate volunteers is too ‍small. So ⁤they will ‌go ⁢to other states and ⁣ignore California in the primary, as⁤ they ignore California‌ in the general election,” ⁣Fleischman said.

California GOP Faces Rule Change to Protect Delegates

According to California ⁤GOP, the‍ rules​ already on the books were not ‍“in compliance” with the Republican National ⁢Convention’s rules, and if they failed to overhaul its‌ delegate allocation process, it‍ would⁤ have lost half of its delegates. While a heavily Democratic state, California’s large⁣ delegate count could play a significant role in choosing the⁣ Republican ⁢presidential nominee.

California Republicans will head to the ‍polls on Super Tuesday, March 5,⁣ to vote for their preferred‍ candidate.

“I am grateful to ⁢the many CAGOP delegates who engaged in our Party’s rules change ​process, ⁣provided insightful feedback and debated‍ the ⁤merits of the⁣ change to make sure that our Party landed on the best solution for all California‌ Republicans,” Patterson said. “Together, we will help the‌ Republican Party select⁣ the candidate who can take back ‍the White House and retire President Biden next November.”