Posted on 04/02/2012 5:32:56 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Republicans rallied behind Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk at their annual convention over the weekend, giving him their endorsement in the race for the open, at-large House seat.
After three rounds of ballots, Kalk obtained more than a majority of delegates — 929 votes — to win his party’s official support over a crowded field.
Republican hopefuls traditionally abide by the GOP convention’s endorsement. This weekend, almost every other GOP House contender dropped out of the race prior to Kalk’s acceptance speech, including state Rep. Bette Grande, state Rep. Kim Koppelman, former Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle and businessman DuWayne Hendrickson.
But this year, Kalk will have rare competition in the June 12 GOP primary. Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer announced before the convention that he would run outside the party’s endorsement system — a rare scenario for North Dakota Republicans.
Former state Rep. Pam Gulleson is the likely Democratic nominee. But the winner of the GOP primary, likely Kalk, is expected to be the next House Member from North Dakota.
The House seat is open because freshman Rep. Rick Berg (R) is seeking the state’s open Senate seat. Berg also received his party’s endorsement in a much less contentious convention battle.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
This shouldn’t be a difficult race. Obama seems to be hugely unpopular in North Dakota.
Whichever of Kalk or Cramer wins the GOP primary will win in November. A FReeper from ND said a while back that Kalk is a bit of a cypher, but he’s certainly been campaigning as a conservative. Frankly, I don’t know which of the two to support.
Any difference between Kalk and Cramer?
I don’t know much about Brian Kalk or Kevin Cramer. We’ll need a North Dakota Freeper to clear this up.
I don't know anything about either candidate, but as a rule I prefer the GOP primary voters decide who the nominee should be without the state party officials trying to anoint someone. I find it odd that it's a "rare scenario" for someone to run in the ND primary without the state GOP's endorsement. North Dakota is almost entirely a 1-party Republican dominated state, so if the party endorsed candidate is normally "expected" to run opposed, then why bother to have elections?
“North Dakota is almost entirely a 1-party Republican dominated state”
I know Cramer and like him. I've testified before some committees he has been on and he has a good grasp of how business struggles to create wealth and jobs.
The ND GOP is very cautious and establishment orientated, and seeks candidates who are bland and don't rock the boat. That alone makes me wary.
That’s what happens in states with conventions.
Minnesota is another such state, though I think more candidates ignore the convention results and run in the primary anyway.
The extreme is Utah, where you can’t make the primary ballot without being a top 2 finisher at the convo, and if the winner gets over 60% he is nominated and there is no primary at all.
“...then why bother to have elections?”
Exactly!!’
Ummm... don't ALL states have state party conventions? The Illinois Republican Party convention is set for June 8-9 this year in Tinley Park. State GOP chooses Tinley Park for 2012 convention
Of course, it would be pretty difficult for the IL GOP to endorse candidates for the primary, considering the primary was in March and the convention is in June.
Still, not only do the delegates NOT endorse candidates, they wouldn't even let us vote on who the national committeeman and committeewoman would be. I'm still irked about what happened at the 2008 state party convention where everything from the platform to the committeeman's race was decided behind closed doors and the delegates were expected to rubber stamp it.
“Ummm... don’t ALL states have state party conventions?”
Probably, but I meant states with conventions that are involved in choosing candidates.
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