Last year, the Washington Republicans wanted to move the state’s presidential primary from May 24 to March in hopes of gaining some attention from the presidential candidates.
That effort failed.
But it appears the state’s Republicans will get their wish of being relevant in the race.
“We’re very excited. It looks like the May 24 primary will be right in the middle of things,” said Steve Beren, a spokesman for the state party.
The Democrats held their precinct-committee caucuses on March 26. Leading up to the caucuses, Vancouver was visited by Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s husband, Bill.
On May 24, state voters who promise they are Republican, at least for that day, and aren’t involved in any other party’s nomination will be able to vote for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich or Ben Carson, who remains on the ballot despite no longer remaining in the race.
Beren said the state GOP has invited Trump, Cruz and Kasich to visit.
“As soon as we know something, we’ll tell you,” Beren said of the possibility of a candidate appearance.
The state Republicans will allocate their 44 delegates based on the primary results. So, those 44 delegates will be bound by the primary results, but only for one round of voting. If talk of a contested convention materializes, and no candidate receives the majority of 1,237 delegates, a second round of voting could happen and the delegates could choose whomever they want.
Beren said it’s an exciting time for the GOP.
“There has been record turnout all over the country,” he said, adding that he expects the same for Washington.
Oregon’s primary will be a week before the Republican primary in Washington.
“I think the candidates will swing through. … It would make sense for them to do so. With the Portland airport, it’s an easy thing to do,” said Jim Moore, a political science professor and director of the Tom McCall Center for Policy Innovation at Pacific University.
Carolyn Long, with the school of politics, philosophy and public affairs at Washington State University Vancouver, agreed that the chances of a Cruz or Trump visit to Washington are good.
“Absolutely; it’s a tight race, it’s highly possible,” Long said. “I think the attention both Sanders and Clinton gave to the state of Washington is an indication there will be some visits.”
