Trump, DeSantis Campaigns Lead in GOP Delegate Recruitment
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former Vice President Mike Pence appear at a presidential debate in August.
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Petition circulation for presidential candidates and delegates begins in the state this weekend, and it appears some Republican campaigns are struggling to recruit delegate candidates.
In Illinois, delegates are selected by voters and actually determine the winner of the primary election. The actual candidate election is often referred to as a “vanity” race. In the Republican race, three delegates and three alternates are chosen from each of the state’s 17 congressional district, a total of 102.
Democrats, by the way, will send 178 delegates and 12 alternates to the Democratic National Convention. 96 of them will be elected by voters and are divided up by congressional district, though, unlike Republicans, are not equally proportioned. 32 are at large and 19 are identified as “party leaders and elected officials.”
While the sitting Democratic President and a strong Democratic party infrastructure isn’t causing the Biden campaign any headaches, many Republican candidates aren’t having such an easy time.
We’re told the campaign of former President Donald Trump is “nearing” finalizing its delegate slate and that the Trump campaign effort is “miles ahead” of where it was in 2016 or 2020. Former Lake County GOP Chairman Mark Shaw, the Vice Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, is said to be leading the effort. He did not respond to requests from The Illinoize on Tuesday.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is said to have had a “struggle” recruiting delegates, specifically downstate, where Trump holds the strongest advantage over the field. But, we’re told supporters expect to have a full slate or “close to” a full slate of delegates when petitions begin circulating this weekend.
Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) says he is considering a run for delegate for former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, though we’re told the Haley campaign has very few of its potential slots filled with delegates.
“[She has an] ability to appeal with moderate Republicans, moderate Democrats, and, most importantly, independents,” DeWitte said Tuesday. “Staunch supporters of either party are looking for someone who can win in both primaries and the general election.”
Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is running for delegate for South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. We’re told the Scott campaign is ‘not very far along’ in its delegate recruitment.
We inquired about numerous other campaigns, including former Vice President Mike Pence, and it appears no other GOP candidate has made much, if any, progress in delegate recruitment so far.
Presidential candidates and their delegates file nominating petitions later than other candidates, not filing until after the first of the year.