Politico reported that four states plan to scrap their GOP primaries or caucus to ensure Trump’s long shot challengers have no chance of carrying that particular state. At meetings this weekend, GOP leaders in SC, NV, AZ, and KS plan to finalize their cancellation plans.
Trump’s advisers noted “that parties of an incumbent president seeking reelection have a long history of canceling primaries and note it will save state parties money”
However, former Congressman Joe Walsh doesn’t agree with the GOP’s position:
“Trump and his allies and the Republican National Committee are doing whatever they can do to eliminate primaries in certain states and make it very difficult for primary challengers to get on the ballot in a number of states,” said former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who recently launched his primary campaign against the president. “It’s wrong, the RNC should be ashamed of itself, and I think it does show that Trump is afraid of a serious primary challenge because he knows his support is very soft.”
“Primary elections are important, competition within parties is good, and we intend to be on the ballot in every single state no matter what the RNC and Trump allies try to do,” Walsh added. “We also intend to loudly call out this undemocratic bull on a regular basis.”
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld also expressed his frustration:
“We don’t elect presidents by acclamation in America. Donald Trump is doing his best to make the Republican Party his own personal club. Republicans deserve better.”
