Republican delegates from U.S. Virgin Islands, 2016
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The U.S. Virgin Islands sent nine unpledged delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention, including three automatic delegates who represent the territory on the Republican National Committee: John Canegata, Lilliana O'Neal, and Holland Redfield.
At the Virgin Islands Republican caucuses on March 10, 2016, the following at-large delegates were elected to attend the Republican National Convention as unpledged delegates.[1]
Delegates disqualified
On March 22, 2016, the Virgin Islands Republican Party disqualified the six U.S. Virgin Islands delegates elected at the territorial caucus based on a violation of party rules. According to the Virgin Island GOP chair's statement, delegates must confirm that they accept election in writing within five days of being elected, which according to Virgin Island GOP chair John Canegata, the delegates failed to do.[2]
As a result of these delegates being disqualified, six alternate delegates—who were also elected at the territorial caucuses—were made official delegates. Four of them pledged their support to specific candidates, while two did not.[3] In May 2016, Canegata issued a press release stating that all Virgin Islands GOP delegates intended to support Donald Trump at the national convention.[4]
- David Johnson (Uncommitted)
- Valerie Stiles (Rubio)
- Andrea Lee Moeekel (Uncommitted)
- Humberto O'Neal (Rubio)
- Steven K. Hardy (Trump)
- Robert Max Schanfarber (Cruz)
Reinstatement of original delegates
In early July 2016, however, the Republican National Committee's Committee on Contests reversed Canageta's decision and reinstated the original delegate slate. In a report on the conflict, the committee's chairman, Doyle Webb, wrote, "As became obvious in reading the parties’ venom-full submissions to this committee, this contest arises out of the months of contentious, unprofessional infighting that has been going on between some in the Virgin Islands party’s leadership, including its chairman, and certain contestants. Seemingly every week, news arises of more alleged misbehavior by both factions — including acts of assault, threats, defamation, fraud, subterfuge and misuse of party rules."[5]
See also
- Republican National Convention, 2016
- 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
- Presidential election in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 2016
- Republican delegate rules by state, 2016
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Tweet from Phil Kerpen on March 10, 2016
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Chaos In Virgin Island GOP Continues As Controversial Delegates Are Disqualified," March 22, 2016
- ↑ USVI GOP, "Memorandum from our Chair," April 3, 2016
- ↑ Breitbart, "Virgin Islands' GOP delegation endorses Donald Trump," May 22, 2016
- ↑ The Detroit News, "Mich. native wins contentious bid for GOP delegate seat," July 3, 2016
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