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John Kaites
| John Kaites | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Public Policy Partners |
| Role: | Founder |
| Location: | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Education: | •Allegheny College •Duquesne University |
John Kaites is a former member of the Arizona State Legislature and a lobbyist working in the state of Arizona. In addition to his time in the legislature, Kaites also worked as an assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona and as a prosecutor for Mariposa County.[1]
Kaites was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Arizona. All 58 delegates from Arizona were bound by state law to support the winner of the statewide primary, Donald Trump, for one ballot at the convention.[2] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
Career
John Kaites began his career in politics as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving one term from 1993 to 1994. He then served in the Arizona State Senate from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, Kaites ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General of Arizona.[3]
Kaites has a long relationship with Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of two Chicago sports franchises. According to The Arizona Republic, Kaites "has long considered Reinsdorf, who lives part time in Paradise Valley, a mentor." He worked to negotiate a spring training park for Reinsdorf's baseball team—the Chicago White Sox—and was involved in a bid to purchase Phoenix's professional hockey team with Reinsdorf.[4]
Kaites started the lobbying firm Public Policy Partners in 2000. The group lobbies on behalf of a number of clients, including Cox Communications and the professional baseball teams the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland Athletics.[5] In 2012, Public Policy Partners acquired another Arizona lobbying firm, DeMenna and Associates, for $4.2 million.[6] The firm was bought back by Kevin DeMenna in 2013.[7]
2016 Republican National Convention
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
Kaites was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Arizona. He was bound to support Donald Trump for one ballot.
Delegate rules
In Arizona, district-level and at-large delegates were selected at the Arizona Republican State Convention. Under state law, these delegates were required to vote on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention for the winner of the statewide primary.
Arizona primary results
- See also: Presidential election in Arizona, 2016
| Arizona Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
| Jeb Bush | 0.7% | 4,393 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 2.4% | 14,940 | 0 | |
| Chris Christie | 0.2% | 988 | 0 | |
| Tim Cook | 0% | 243 | 0 | |
| Ted Cruz | 27.6% | 172,294 | 0 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 0.2% | 1,270 | 0 | |
| Lindsey Graham | 0.1% | 498 | 0 | |
| Mike Huckabee | 0.2% | 1,300 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 10.6% | 65,965 | 0 | |
| George Pataki | 0% | 309 | 0 | |
| Rand Paul | 0.4% | 2,269 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 11.6% | 72,304 | 0 | |
| Rick Santorum | 0.1% | 523 | 0 | |
 Donald Trump |
45.9% | 286,743 | 58 | |
| Totals | 624,039 | 58 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and Arizona Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
Arizona had 58 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 27 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's nine congressional districts). Arizona's district delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the candidate who won the plurality of the statewide vote received all of the state's district delegates.[8][9]
Of the remaining 31 delegates, 28 served at large. At-large delegates were also allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the candidate who won the plurality of the statewide vote received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[8][9]
See also
External link
Footnotes
- ↑ Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "John P. Kaites," accessed October 29, 2015
- ↑ Arizona Republican Party, "Arizona’s Elected Delegates to Republican National Convention," accessed May 6, 2016
- ↑ The Daily Courier, "John Kaites seeks to continue his mission," August 14, 1998
- ↑ The Arizona Republic, "Ex-Glendale lawmaker aims to buy Phoenix Coyotes," September 27, 2011
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Arizona Secretary of State Lobbyist System," accessed October 29, 2015
- ↑ The Arizona Republic, "Capitol lobbying," November 5, 2012
- ↑ Phoenix Business Journal, "DeMenna buys family firm back from Kaites," November 15, 2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
