22 Sep Trump notches another delegate selection rule win in Massachusetts

Trump’s campaign modifies party rules to favor his presidential bid, leading to nationwide revisions. California GOP’s executive committee awards all delegates to the candidate with over half of the statewide vote, benefiting Trump. Massachusetts Republicans propose a challenge: if Trump receives under 50% of votes, others can win delegates. The financially strained state party aims to attract well-funded candidates, offering proportional delegate awards to those earning over 10% of the primary vote if no candidate exceeds 50%. In 2020, Massachusetts Republicans shifted to a winner-takes-all model to protect Trump. They included a contingency plan, awarding delegates to candidates with over 20% of votes if none crossed the 50% threshold. With a crowded 2024 field, the party reverts to a proportional model, hoping to lure more competitors. Trump maintains an advantage if his polling remains high and lawsuits barring him from the Massachusetts ballot fail. The revised delegate plan also helps the Massachusetts GOP alleviate its $116,000 debt. The state GOP chair considers charging up to $20,000 for primary ballot placement, reduced to $10,000 if candidates hold a state party event. Despite charges, candidates can bypass the party and submit 2,500 certified voter signatures to the secretary of state for ballot inclusion. The party hopes to boost its relevance by attracting high-profile candidates.

Source: POLITICO