A Contested convention means that no one has enough delegates to win on the first vote coming into the convention, so the candidates lobby the uncommitted delegates before the first ballot takes place. After the first ballot and no one wins then a brokered convention is in play. No delegates are committed and can vote for whomever they chose to.
It’s not exactly true that no delegates are committed if there is a second ballot.
Florida, for example, binds delegates through THREE rounds of voting.
” then a brokered convention is in play.”
NO!
That is NOT a “brokered” convention.
then a brokered convention is in play.
No, a “contested” convention is in play. Not trying to split hairs but there is a huge difference between brokered and contested. If Trump doesn’t have the 1237 then we have a contest to see who will get to a majority of delegates. A brokered convention would look like the party nominating a person who is not on the ballot like Paul Ryan. Not going to happen. The nominee will be Trump or Cruz.