Does Your Vote Matter? Detailing Delegates in Indiana
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Earlier this week an older woman called the Times-Union and asked if her vote would matter or if the delegates to the Republican state and national conventions would vote the way they wanted instead. On Tuesday, Indiana Republican Party Chairman Jeff Cardwell issued the following statement describing the Indiana GOP’s process of sending delegates to the national convention: “Let me assure all Hoosiers that your voice will be heard in our primary election on May 3. We look forward to welcoming all three of our presidential candidates to Indiana to provide them the opportunity to present their vision for the future of America to our citizens. We encourage everyone to engage in the process and get out and vote. We strongly believe in the election process and every vote counts.” The statement was followed by a description of the GOP delegate process. Indiana has a total of 57 delegates it sends to the national convention: 27 district delegates, which is three for each of the state’s nine congressional districts, 27 at-large delegates and three automatic delegates – two for the Republican National Committee members and one for the state chairman. All of the delegates to the national convention are bound on the first ballot by the results of the primary election in their local districts. The press release from Cardwell’s office gives an example of the allocation of delegates using some past candidates: If Congressional District 6 goes for Gov. Scott Walker, then the three delegates from that district have to vote for Walker on the first ballot. If Congressional District 1 goes for Gov. Jeb Bush, then those three delegates must vote for Bush on the first ballot, and so on. All 27 at-large delegates represent the state popular vote. If Indiana votes for Sen. Marco Rubio, then those 27 at-large delegates must vote for Rubio on the first ballot at the national convention. The three automatic delegates also vote with the popular vote of the state. The process can be viewed on the Indiana GOP website at: www.indiana.gop/sites/default/files/Party%20Rules.pdf While Indiana Republicans will have 57 delegates at the national convention, the party will have 1,793 delegates at the state convention, according to Kristen Williams, communications coordinator, Indiana GOP. The state party decides how many are given to each county as far as delegates to the state convention go, according to information provided by Ann Torpy, Kosciusko clerk of Circuit and Superior Courts. Delegates at the state convention decide on issues like who will represent their party in the November general election for state attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and other state office holders. In the Republican Party they are divided by congressional district. Delegate district 1 is made up of Congressional District 3 and delegate district 2 is made up of Congressional District 2 for the state convention. The Democrat delegate districts will have 14 elected, countywide at-large delegates. The Democrat party has always been an “at-large” delegate selection, according to Torpy. Since they were not contested in Kosciusko, they do not have to appear on the ballot. The Indiana Democrats website, www.indems.org, states that over 2,000 delegates will gather at the Indiana Convention Center June 18 to nominate its Democratic candidates for state superintendent of public instruction, attorney general and lieutenant governor. State delegates also will elect the Indiana delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The website lists the allotment of delegates for Kosciusko to the state convention as 14 elected delegates and one automatic. The Kosciusko Republican Party will have 17 delegate positions for District 1, representing the townships of Jackson, Monroe, Tippecanoe, Washington, Wayne (including the City of Warsaw) and Plain (precincts 1-5 and 7). On the ballot for D1 delegates are, from Winona Lake: Kent Adams, John Elliott, Lynn Howie, Terry Howie; Warsaw: Carlye Baenen; Robert Bishop, Anne Bonewitz, Brian Boyer, Monica Boyer, Gary Eppenbaugh, Christanne Hampton, Daniel Hampton, Rhonda Helser, Tyler Huffer, Sue Ann Mitchell, Diane Quance, Christopher Sanders, Robert Sanders, Joe Thallemer, David Wolkins, Terry Wood; Pierceton: Cheryl McIntosh, Michael Miner; and North Webster: Tressa Nichols. District 2 will have 13 delegate positions and will represent the townships of Clay, Etna, Franklin, Harrison, Jefferson, Lake, Plain (precinct 6 only), Prairie, Scott, Seward, Turkey Creek and Van Buren. District 2 delegate candidates are, from Syracuse: Kimberly Cates, Randal Girod, Brett Heinisch, Rebecca Kubacki, Michael Kubacki, Kim Golden; Silver Lake: Teresa Martin, Chad Miner; Claypool: Allison McSherry, Jason McSherry; Milford: Anthony Ciriello; and Warsaw: Michael Long. There are no at-large Republican delegates.
