Republican party leaders in 11 states holding conventions and selecting delegates Saturday pressed anti-Donald Trump members to fall in line behind the presumptive nominee — and punished those who refused,
Politico reports.
Nearly 400 delegates to the party's nominating convention were picked, or, according to Politico, about one in every six who'll fill seats in Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena in July.
According to Politico, the rally-around-Trump forces won out, including in:
– Nebraska, where members passed a
resolution to reprimand freshman Sen. Ben Sasse for his attacks on Trump, and scuttled a countermeasure to condemn "degrading remarks toward women, minorities and other individuals" by presidential candidates, Politico reports.
And despite a threatened attempt by Sen. Ted Cruz supporters to take over the delegation, 21 of the 36 members picked endorsed Trump.
– Maryland, where veteran Republican committeeman Louis Pope was replaced by Citizens United chief David Bossie, a conservative activist described by Politico as a longtime ally of Trump.
– Arkansas, where the national delegation's leadership was packed with Trump allies, giving them influence to shape Republican Party rules and policy doctrines at the convention.
– Nevada, where despite suggestions Cruz would still be a factor in delegate battles, at least 13 of 15 statewide delegates were pro-Trump.
– Kansas, where despite Cruz's decisive primary victory, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Trump supporter, was selected to be a delegate.
– Florida, where despite former Gov. Jeb Bush's part in building the current GOP leadership, most of the 14 delegates selected were Trump backers.