Former President Donald Trump’s allies are orchestrating a silent yet significant reshaping of the rules governing the GOP’s 2024 nomination process, aimed at securing Trump’s triumphant return. This carefully calculated strategy is being seen by some as astute political maneuvering and by others as an attempt to “rig” the system.
A recent example of this strategy played out in California, where a proposed set of delegate selection rules stirred up a political storm. This proposal had the potential to make California’s GOP nomination process more competitive by allowing lower-placing candidates to claim more delegates than before. This sparked a swift response from Trump’s aides and allies, who reached out to state leaders to voice their concerns.
The situation escalated when far-right figures such as Laura Loomer accused the state party of trying to steal the nomination from Trump. This triggered a wave of conspiracy theories within the MAGA community, intensifying the pressure on the GOP.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his allies within California’s GOP acted swiftly upon Trump’s concerns. After consulting with Trump’s inner circle, they approached California GOP Chair Jessica Millan Patterson to voice their objections to the proposed rules. Within a matter of days, the authors of the original proposal all but abandoned their plan. The result was the adoption of new rules that were favored by Trump’s team. These rules dictate that all of California’s delegates would be awarded to the candidate who secures more than half of the statewide vote — a scenario Trump’s campaign aides believe is within reach.
This incident sheds light on a broader effort by Trump’s team to wield influence over delegate selection rules across various states. Traditionally, state parties have been responsible for establishing their own rules for allocating delegates. However, Trump’s team has been strategically reaching out to allies to make adjustments aimed at securing his nomination and thwarting proposals that could benefit his rivals.
This strategic approach underscores Trump’s heightened political acumen, an evolution from his 2016 campaign when he was caught off-guard by Senator Ted Cruz’s delegate strategy. This time around, Trump’s team has been far more proactive, outmaneuvering his rivals. Only Ron DeSantis and his allies at the Never Back Down super PAC have been able to provide significant opposition to Trump’s maneuvering.
Trump’s strategy relies on a combination of persuasion and pressure. Trump himself has been personally involved in cultivating relationships with state party leaders. He has invited them to events and entertained them at his properties. This dual approach of charm and leverage has proven effective, as evident in the California situation where the strong alliance between McCarthy and Patterson influenced the outcome of the delegate rules.
However, Trump’s influence has garnered its share of critics. Opponents argue that Trump’s team is attempting to manipulate the system in their favor. They accuse the team of strong-arming GOP committees and undermining the democratic process. The DeSantis campaign and the Never Back Down super PAC have mounted a defense against some of these changes. However, they have encountered challenges in keeping up with Trump’s strategic moves.
In essence, the struggle for control over delegate selection rules underscores the Trump team’s remarkable capacity to shape the nomination process, potentially altering the trajectory of the 2024 election. This behind-the-scenes power play is poised to have significant implications for the GOP’s future.
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