Hall Blasts State Rep. Lucido's Plan To "Eliminate The (Precinct) Delegates" Ability To Make Major Decisions

Matt Hall, with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)

Matt Hall is a conservative activist and law student who is also a member of the Michigan Republican Party's State Committee. 

Hall was an early supporter of Donald Trump and was elected to be a Trump Delegate in Cleveland where he served on the Rules Committee. Hall even made the motion to end the "Never Trump" movement's efforts to steal the GOP Presidential nomination from Trump... He recently gave a rousing speech nominating Nikki Snyder for State Board of Education. Snyder prevailed in an impressive upset win over former Judge and State Rep. Bill Runco.

Now Hall is upset with a proposal from State Rep. Pete Lucido to strip the ability of precinct delegates to decide the GOP nominee for offices like Attorney General, Lt. Governor, and Secretary of State. Lucido told MIRS "let's get rid of the delegates."

In a statement, Hall wrote Lucido's efforts were "arrogant." 

"Rep. Peter Lucido wants to take away the voice of the grassroots republicans (and democrats) to select their party's nominee for Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Lt. Governor. His desire to "get rid of the delegates" is just another example of establishment republicans trying to take away the voice of the party grassroots. Grassroots Republicans need to band together to defeat Lucido's arrogant and disenfranchising legislation.

First, by electing the Lt Gov candidate separately in a primary election, the Gubernatorial nominee would have no voice in selecting a candidate he or she would like to run with. If the candidates ran as a team, this would prevent the candidate from selecting one of the other candidates (or their supporters) to bring the party together (an option that is sometimes necessary).

Secondly, the convention process allows our most dedicated, and hardworking grassroots republicans the opportunity to influence the statewide ticket. This ensures that some of our candidates are true to the base of the party, and not chosen by who can raise the most money from Lansing special interests. 

The system is working, our republican convention has nominated strong conservative candidates who have gone on to win their election, and who have been true to the grassroots of the party once elected including Candice Miller, Mike Cox, Terri Lynn Land, and Bill Schuette. I have confidence that our other republican legislators see the benefit of the current system and will bury this legislation, but we need to make our voices heard."

1st Congressional District GOP Chair Jesse Osmer agrees.

"Rep. Peter Lucido's plan to strip the ability of precinct delegates to decide the GOP nominee for offices like Attorney General, Lt. Governor, and Secretary of State is ridiculous," Osmer said. "
I strongly urge our Representatives in the north to stand with the grassroots and oppose Rep. Lucido's plan."

Hall, right, with Darlene Dowling Thompson, Scott Hagerstrom, and CJ Galdes (Photo by DarKen Photography)

Hall also worries about Dems hijacking the party's nominees.

"With the state's current open primary law, Lucido's bill would take away the voice of grassroots conservatives and instead allow Democrats and other non-Republicans to influence the selection of these important statewide Republican candidates," Hall tells WMP.

Hall, who serves on the MIGOP Policy Committee, believes that it is possible for the State Committee to override Lucido's legislation by adopting party rules requiring candidates to continue to be nominated by the convention.

"Regardless, it creates an unnecessary fight within the Republican Party, sending the wrong message to grassroots Republicans," Hall said.

State Rep. Pete Lucido

According to MIRS:

"The Michigan Republican Party (MRP), like the Democrats, selects its nominees for attorney general, secretary of state and lieutenant governor every four years at a state convention.

But if a Macomb County lawmaker has his way, the process would be taken away from convention delegates and placed in the hands of the statewide voting public.

"The current system is not a democracy," said Rep. Peter LUCIDO (R-Shelby Twp.), who has drafted a yet-to-be-introduced bill to abolish the current nominating process. "Let's get rid of the delegates."

Stay tuned!

__________________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson