The Rules Committee of the Republican Party of Wisconsin (RPW) has given its preliminary approval of allowing delegates to vote not to endorse a candidate in statewide elections during its upcoming state convention. The proposal will go before the full convention on May 21st, where delegates will have the final say.
RPW’s constitution requires a vote on whether to endorse candidates at its convention. To win an endorsement, a candidate must be backed by at least 60% of the delegates. The endorsement provides a significant boost as it allows a campaign to access the party’s infrastructure ahead of the August 9th primary.
RPW’s Executive Committee previously establish thresholds for candidates to be considered for an endorsement. Those running for governor or the U.S. Senate must have raised at least $100,000 from at least 1,000 individual donors by March 15th to be considered for an endorsement.
Kevin Nicholson, a candidate in the gubernatorial primary, has criticized the party for its endorsement process. He previously told the party that he would not seek its endorsement, but later asked to be included on the ballot as an “insurance policy” if the party decided to not allow a “no endorsement option.”
A spokeswoman for Nicholson said that he has “remained consistent in his position recommending that the Republican Party of Wisconsin not cause unnecessary division by endorsing a candidate before the primary.”
