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The Republican Party in Virginia and North Carolina is considering adding an extra qualification for those wishing to appear on their state's primary ballots: A commitment to support the eventual Republican nominee. Which may prompt the casual observer to ask, "Can they do that?"
The answer is yes. Adding external, seemingly tangential stipulations to primary ballots is both perfectly within the rights of state parties -- and something with a long history. Richard Winger, editor of the three-decade-old journal Ballot Access News, spoke with The Post by phone to walk through how it works.
"Ever since 1972, the Supreme Court has upheld the ability of political parties to control their own nomination process," Winger explained. That independence leverages the First Amendment's freedom of association clause. "Parties are private organizations," Winger said. "They have the right not to be merged with the government. They are associations of people that come together and work together for common political goals, and so essentially they're private." And therefore can control their own membership -- and candidates...
...In 2008, the Texas Democratic Party introduced another new rule: Candidates had to pledge to support the eventual nominee. Former Ohio representative Dennis Kucinich declined to do so, and sued. "He lost in every round," Winger says. "He lost in U.S. District Court, he lost in the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court wouldn't hear it." That case establishes pretty clearly that Virginia and North Carolina can apply the limit they're considering.
Ultimately, though, the loyalty oath depends on the good word of the candidate. If a candidate -- call him Ronald Bump -- were to pledge to support the Republican nominee but then decided to run as an independent, there's nothing that could be done to prevent him from doing so. The repercussions would be solely in the judgment of the voters. Which, for our hypothetical Bump candidate, might not be a significantly limiting factor.
..who is going to build the roads??A loyarlity to turn our country into a third world hell hole.
..who is going to build the roads??A loyarlity to turn our country into a third world hell hole.
"The state party announced on Tuesday that for presidential candidates to qualify for the South Carolina primary, they must pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election."
This is completely unnecessary.
Once Silly Season ends and the primaries start, as serious, mainstream, rank and file republicans participate in actual elections, Trump will be gone – likely after the South Carolina primary.
Indeed, this stunt could very well backfire, were Trump would run as an independent to get back at republicans who didn't allow him to run in a given primary.
They are terrified, aren't they?"The state party announced on Tuesday that for presidential candidates to qualify for the South Carolina primary, they must pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election."
This is completely unnecessary.
Once Silly Season ends and the primaries start, as serious, mainstream, rank and file republicans participate in actual elections, Trump will be gone – likely after the South Carolina primary.
Indeed, this stunt could very well backfire, were Trump would run as an independent to get back at republicans who didn't allow him to run in a given primary.
It is a sitcom."The state party announced on Tuesday that for presidential candidates to qualify for the South Carolina primary, they must pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election."
This is completely unnecessary.
Once Silly Season ends and the primaries start, as serious, mainstream, rank and file republicans participate in actual elections, Trump will be gone – likely after the South Carolina primary.
Indeed, this stunt could very well backfire, were Trump would run as an independent to get back at republicans who didn't allow him to run in a given primary.
Trump has always said he will support the GOP nominee if treated fairly by the party. These initiatives will be giving him good reason to believe he won't be given a level playing field.
This is better than a Sitcom!
..who is going to build the roads??A loyarlity to turn our country into a third world hell hole.
Trump after.he finishes the Wall.
Trump after he builds a bridge to his comb over.
Trump definitely is under their skin… Bad move by the GOP… Loyalty oath…WTF??? I wonder who is pulling the strings… Bilderberg Group?
