RNC delegate guidelines from California, 2016

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2016 Republican National Convention

Date July 18-21, 2016 Location Cleveland, Ohio

Candidates President Donald Trump Vice President Mike Pence

Delegates

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This page provides known guidelines for Republican delegates representing California at the 2016 National Republican Convention, as compiled from the Republican Party of California's "Standing Rules and Bylaws" and "National Delegation FAQ" and California Elections Code secs. 6460-6461. The full text of relevant regulations is reproduced below

HIGHLIGHTS

California sent 172 delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention. California was a winner-take-all state in 2016.

Republican delegates from California were responsible for covering all costs associated with attending the national convention, including airfare, lodging, meals, and a $900 participation charge. The California GOP estimated that costs would range from $3,000 to $6,000 per delegate.

Presidential candidates were responsible for selecting their own delegates from California to the national convention. State law, as of July 2016, required delegates to support the winner of the California Republican primary election unless that candidate received less than 10 percent of the vote at the convention in the first round of voting; the candidate released them; or voting at the convention proceeded to a third round.

California GOP Standing Rules and Bylaws

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Standing Rules and Bylaws

Article 5: Selection of Presidential Nominating Convention Delegates to Presidential Nominating Convention

Sec. 6.01: Selection of Presidential Nominating Convention Delegates

A. The selection of Presidential Nominating Convention Delegates to the Republican National Convention shall be conducted as provided in Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 6, commencing with section 6300, of the California Elections Code; provided, however, Presidential Nominating Convention delegates and alternate Presidential Nominating Convention delegates shall be chosen by the Presidential candidate who obtained the plurality of Republican votes within each Congressional district, and, for Presidential Nominating Convention delegates and alternate Presidential Nominating Convention delegates “at large,” by the Presidential candidate who obtained the plurality of Republican votes statewide.

B. The Chairman of the Committee shall certify the selections of Presidential Nominating Convention delegates and alternate Presidential Nominating Convention delegates made by the representatives of such Presidential candidate or candidates to the Secretary of State and to the Secretary of the Republican National Committee as required by law and by the Rules of the Republican Party. For purposes of the notification of the Chairman and Secretary, each Presidential candidate whose name appears on the Presidential primary election ballot shall identify the name and address of his or her representative who shall be authorized to identify the Presidential Nominating Convention delegates and alternate Presidential Nominating Convention delegates selected by that Presidential candidate under these Bylaws.

1. Each Presidential candidate whose name appears on the Presidential primary election ballot shall identify to the Chairman and the Secretary of the Committee the names and addresses of delegates and alternate delegates at large and by Congressional District selected by the Presidential candidate as his or her delegates and identified to the California Secretary of State in accordance with state law. This identification shall be made within 5 calendar days of the date such names are submitted to the California Secretary of State, or 5 calendar days prior to the June Presidential Primary election, whichever is sooner, and may be amended as necessary prior to the submission of authorized delegates by the Chairman and Secretary of the Committee to the Secretary of the Republican National Committee.

2. The Chairman of the Committee shall certify the selections of delegates and alternate delegates made by the representatives of such Presidential candidate or candidatesto the Secretary of State as required by law. For purposes of the notification of the Chairman and Secretary, each Presidential candidate whose name appears on the Presidential primary election ballot shall identify the name and address of his or her representative who shall be authorized to identify the delegates and alternate delegates selected by that Presidential candidate under these Bylaws.

3. Should the last possible date for the completion of the official canvass of the vote as required in the California Elections Code Sections 62— and 6420 be less than 21 days before the date of the meeting of the National Convention, then Delegates and Alternate Delegates shall be selected in the following manner:

a. The Semifinal Official Canvass of the vote, as defined in California Election Code Sections 15000 – 15290 shall be used in place of the official canvass of the vote.

b. The determination of which presidential nominee obtained the plurality of the vote in any Congressional district, or at large, shall be based on the Semifinal Official Canvass.

c. The names of Delegates and Alternate Delegates as chosen by the presidential nominees shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Republican National Committee by the Chairman and the Secretary of the California Republican Party, as required by Rule 20(b)(2) of the Republican National Committee

d. Once the official canvass becomes or updates become available, any changes in the California Delegation will be sent to the Secretary of the Republican National Committee.

C. In the event that the Republican National Convention in even-numbered years shall be concluded after the statutory deadline for certifying candidates for President and Vice President for the November election ballot who have received the nomination as a candidate for public office pursuant to California law, the Chairman of the Committee shall be empowered prior to the statutory filing deadline as set forth in Cal. Elec. Code Sec. 8148 to notify the Secretary of State of the nomination of the Republican candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, upon the Chairman’s determination that the Presidential nominating convention is substantially likely to nominate persons as candidates for those offices in the general election, on the basis of the following determinations: (a) that a candidate for President has attained a sufficient number of delegate votes to assure nomination at the Republican National Convention; (b) that the candidate for President has identified a person who will be nominated to run for the office of Vice President; and (c) that the Republican National Convention is likely to nominate the person who is the choice of the candidate for President for the Vice Presidential nomination.

Sec. 6.02: Organization of California Delegation to Republican National Convention

A. The Committee may, consistent with federal election and tax laws and the Rules of the Republican Party, organize the Convention Delegation to represent California Republicans at each Republican National Convention that is convened to nominate the Party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

B. The Chairman shall appoint and convene a special committee, consisting of five appointees of the Chairman to organize the Convention Delegation and provide logistical support for the Convention Delegation. The Committee shall make such arrangements as the special committee shall determine to be necessary and proper to support the Convention Delegation.

C. Prior to the convening of the Republican National Convention, the Convention Delegation shall meet and elect officers and make such appointments to the committees of the Republican National Convention as it is entitled to make.

D. When a vacancy occurs in the California delegation to the Republican National Convention, the Republican presidential candidate who won the plurality of the votes in the district when the vacancy occurs shall appoint a replacement. In the event of a vacancy in a statewide delegate, the Republican presidential candidate who won the plurality of the statewide vote shall appoint a replacement.

E. The Committee shall maintain an archive of records of the California Delegation to each Republican National Convention.

National Delegation FAQ

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: National Delegation FAQ

How many people are in the California Delegation?

Total: 341

• 172 delegates

• 159 (3 delegates per Congressional District)
• 10 delegates at large
• 3 pre-determined (State Chair, National Committeewoman, National Committeeman)

• 169 alternates

• 159 (3 delegates per Congressional District)
• 10 delegates at large

Who chooses the delegates?

Delegates are chosen by the Presidential candidates, NOT by the CRP or the RNC.

Do I need to select a candidate to support when I apply?

Yes. By selecting the candidate you support we are able to provide those same candidates with a comprehensive list of delegate candidates

How does the winner-take-all primary work?

California’s primary is a winner-take-all system by Congressional District. The Presidential candidate who wins any given Congressional District will receive all 3 delegate appointments for that district. In addition, 10 at large delegates are awarded to the presidential candidate receiving the largest number of votes statewide.

I’m a delegate to the California Republican Party does that mean I’m part of the California Delegation?

No. The delegates to the Republican National Convention are chosen by the Presidential candidates and are not in any way related to your status as a member or delegate to the California Republican Party.

What are the requirements for being a delegate?

You must be a registered Republican and a resident of the Congressional District you are representing. You must attend the Delegation Meeting on Saturday, June 25, 2016 near LAX. You must commit to vote for the presidential candidate by whom you are selected.

If I am a delegate to the California Republican Party can I be a delegate to the Republican National Convention?

Yes. In fact, we encourage you to apply to be a delegate to the Republican National Convention if you are a member or delegate to the CRP, but your status as a member or delegate will not guarantee you a spot in the delegation.

What is the cost of attending?

Financial obligations of delegates include, but are not limited to: lodging (the RNC requires you purchase all 5 nights), food, travel, and a $900 participation charge. Take into consideration that convention centers and hotels often have higher costs for food and beverage purchases than you would find at home. We estimate the costs for a delegate to range between $3,000-$6,000.

If I’m not chosen to be a delegate or alternate can I still attend as a guest?

Yes. We will have opportunities to join the delegation as a guest, check back on this website in 2016.

California Elections Code secs. 6460-6461

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: California Elections Code secs. 6460-6461

6460

Every candidate whether selected pursuant to Section 6340, or unselected as referred to in Section 6343, who wishes to have a delegation of electors pledged to his or her candidacy in accordance with the result of the presidential preference primary or who wishes to have an official California delegation at the Republican National Convention shall form a delegation in compliance with Section 6461.

6461

(a) The delegation of each candidate shall be composed as follows:

(1) Seventy-eight percent of the delegation, or the nearest whole number thereto which provides for a total number of district delegates equal to at least three times the number of congressional districts within the state, shall be composed of three delegates selected for each congressional district.

(2) The remainder of the delegation shall be composed of delegates selected at large from throughout the state. The names of the persons chosen as delegates shall be submitted to the Secretary of State, by the candidate or his or her designee, no later than 30 days before the presidential primary election for certification.

(b) There shall be no more than one alternate per delegate. Alternates shall be appointed by the candidate or his or her designee and shall be appointed by congressional districts, the number per congressional district to be no less than three. Such alternates shall be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the primary for certification.

(c) Each delegate to the Republican National Convention shall use his or her best efforts at the convention for the party's presidential nominee candidate from California to whom the delegate has pledged support until the person is nominated for the office of President of the United States by the convention, receives less than 10 percent of the votes for nomination by the convention, releases the delegate from his or her obligation, or until two convention nominating ballots have been taken. Thereafter, each delegate shall be free to vote as he or she chooses, and no rule may be adopted by a delegation requiring the delegation to vote as a body or causing the vote of any delegate to go uncounted or unreported.

See also

• Republican National Committee
• Republican National Convention rules, 2012
• Republican National Convention, 2016
• Types of delegates
• Presidential election in California, 2016