Marco Rubio reportedly trying to hold onto his delegates, despite dropping out of the race
Marco Rubio may no longer be in the Republican presidential race, but he's not ready to give up any of the 172 delegates he won.
MSNBC reports that the Florida senator has sent letters to state parties in 21 states and territories, asking that they not release any of the delegates he won while he was still in the race. Typically, when candidates suspend their campaign, as Rubio did earlier this month, their delegates can move on and support the candidate of their choice. Rubio aide Alex Burgos told MSNBC that Rubio "wants to give voters a chance to stop Trump" at the party convention.
Retired Army Col. Peter Goldberg, the chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, received a signed letter from Rubio, asking that the five delegates he won there "remain bound to vote for me" during the Republican National Convention in July. Rubio copied the Republican National Committee's chairman, and also reportedly sent the same letter (which had a typo, calling the United States the "Untied States") out to the other states and territories where he won delegates. "Rubio said, 'I want my delegates,' and I said, 'okay,'" Goldberg said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
When presidential candidates say they are "suspending" their campaign, it's usually so they can keep operations up and running to take care of paperwork and bills. Goldberg is allowing Rubio to keep his delegates because Alaska's party rules say delegates can be taken from a candidate who "drops out," but says nothing about someone who "suspends" their campaign. Goldberg does admit that in the past "we've always taken 'suspend' to mean 'drop,'" but said RNC officials told him "most states are leaning toward giving [Rubio] his delegates."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week Junior
Spark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
By The Week Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published