WSHS will host the 2012 CD 5 District Convention

Location:
West Salem High School — 1776 Titan Dr. NW, Salem

Secure online registration for CD 5 Convention Cost is $25; fee includes lunch
List of candidates for delegation

The first big thing on the calendar for precinct committee people (PCPs) following the May election every four years is the Congressional District Convention. It is at the convention that PCPs from throughout Oregon's Fifth Congressional District — covering the counties of Clackamas, Marion, Polk, Lincoln, and Tillamook along with the northern portion of Benton — select delegates to the Republican Party's national convention and the seven electors who will cast their votes in the Electoral College in December.

The Oregon Republican Party will send 25 delegates, plus the Chair and two national committee representatives, to Tampa, Florida for the convention that runs 27-31 August. Ten of the 25 will be selected at-large by PCPs of all five congressional districts. The remaining 15 delegates will be divided among the districts, providing three for each. Because Oregon is not a winner-takes-all state, delegates are apportioned to each candidate based on the number of votes cast in the May primary. Accordingly, Mitt Romney earned 19 delegates by taking 71% of the statewide vote (69.8% in Marion County). Ron Paul earned three delegates (12.7% / 11.1%); Rick Santorum earned two delegates (9.4% / 11.2%); and Newt Gingrich one delegate (5.37% / 5.36%).

All delegates, except for the three state leaders, are bound to support one of the candidates at least through the first two rounds of voting at the convention unless released by the candidate earlier or the candidate fails to receive 35% of all votes cast at the national convention on the first round. The three state leaders are not bound to any candidate, but have already announced that they will vote for Gov. Romney.

With the breakdown of the delegate allocation to the candidates, it is pretty easy to figure how the at-large and district delegates will be divided. The six delegates for Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich will be added to four delegates for Mitt Romney. The remaining 15 delegates will be those three selected by each of the five congressional districts.

A full list of candidates vying to attend the convention as delegates or alternates — there are 44 candidates for the FOUR available at-large Romney delegates — is available at the ORP web site. More details about the state congressional district conventions are available at the Oregon Republican Party website. There you will find links to Oregon Revised Statutes, national convention rules, and additional details about the national convention.

See you all at West Salem High School on 23 June!