Was Cruz’s Colorado Win Rigged?

By Jon Fye

In January of 2012, the preparation for the coming Colorado Caucus was upon us. Our local Ron Paul group was training to understand the Colorado Caucus because we all wanted the opportunity to vote for the national delegates that the Colorado GOP would send on to the Republican Convention that summer. We were encouraged to become these national delegates if possible.

To become eligible to be a national delegate or to even vote for a national delegate at the Colorado State GOP Convention, you must first understand how the caucus system works. First you have to show up to your local caucus. Then you have to run for one of various delegate positions (County, Congressional, and State), with your precinct voting on those delegates. County delegates go on to vote for county candidates. Congressional delegates go on to vote for congressional district candidates. However, state delegates go on to vote for national delegates at the Colorado GOP Convention, which just recently occurred.

Your precinct is about 8-12 city blocks in size, so this is literally your neighbors getting together at the grass roots level to effect real change in the state party. It is not corrupted like a statewide primary system, where in some states open primaries allow even Democrats to vote in a Republican primary.

The Republican Caucus in Colorado for 2016 was held in late February, on Super Tuesday. In order for Trump to have gained delegates in Colorado, his supporters would have had to have showed up to their local caucuses on Super Tuesday to try to get elected as a state delegate for their precinct.

The sad fact is this folks: Trump and his supporters had horrible organization here in Colorado and they lost big time. Trumps supporters simply didn’t show up to their caucuses, and there really is no excuse for this. Your caucus is in your local neighborhood with your neighbors, usually at a church or at your local school. They are even held in the evening so you don’t have to take time off for work. Despite this, Trump’s supporters, overall didn’t show up.

Trump did manage to secure a few alternate delegates, but the only way they can be seated at the RNC this year is if the first selected delegates do not go and the alternates still show up to the RNC to vote for the parties nominee.

Cruz won fair and square. The Texas senator had a great turnout at the caucuses, and supporters of other candidates at the grassroots level turned #NeverTrump supporters and voted for Cruz’s slate of delegates.

The caucus is the grassroots opportunity to effect real change. And Colorado grassroots rejected Donald Trump.

Jon Fye is a former Republican Candidate for State Representative for Colorado House District 53, 2012 (Received over 15,000 votes. 33.6% of popular vote) Fort Collins, CO.