Some call it an open convention, while others prefer the terms “contested,” “disputed,” or “brokered.” Whatever the words, Trump rivals Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich are trying to accrue enough delegates ahead of the July convention to deny the front-running billionaire the necessary majority on the first ballot — forcing a second ballot, something the Republicans have not seen in more than half-a-century.
Convention delegates who are pledged to back a certain candidate on the first ballot are released from their commitments in subsequent rounds of voting — at exactly which point depends on the state — giving the non-Trump candidates a chance to pull the party in their direction.
From: David, Jackson and USA TODAY. “Trump’s opponents vie for contested convention.” USA Today n.d.:Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. Permanent link: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=J0E215919993716&site=ehost-live
To learn more about the history of brokered and contested primaries we recommend the following library resources:
“Brokered Political Conventions Were Once the Norm.” CQ Weekly (February 29, 2016). http://library.cqpress.com/cqweekly/weeklyreport114-000004842452.
Kamarck, Elaine. Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know About How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2015.
