State party officials announced Wednesday that all 19 of their delegates will be bound to Trump as the candidate at the GOP National Convention next August in North Carolina.
“Hawaii Republicans across the state are united in their support of President Trump and look forward to his second four-year term,” Hawaii GOP Party Chair Shirlene Ostrov said in a statement. “President Trump’s economic achievements have benefitted citizens across the country and in Hawaii, despite corrupt leadership of state Democrats who have negligently accrued billions in unfunded pension liabilities and deceptively implemented a grossly failed rail project destined to raise property taxes out-of-sight.”
The Hill reported Thursday that Hawaii follows Kansas, Alaska, South Carolina, Arizona and Nevada in canceling a nominating contest. And that Trump will be the only candidate on the ticket in Minnesota and Georgia.
While their odds aren’t good at winning the Republican nomination, former Rep. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld have lambasted state parties for not allowing voters to choose their candidate in primary elections.
In 2016, Trump was the Republican Party favorite in the Hawaii caucuses. The second-place finisher was Ted Cruz, who trailed Trump by 11%.
Trump lost 2-to-1 in Hawaii in the general election against Hillary Clinton.
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Nathan Eagle is a deputy editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at neagle@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @nathaneagle, Facebook here and Instagram here.