After chaotic vote (R) are not bound by endorsements

Minnesota GOP stands by Qualls but says candidates aren’t bound by endorsement pledge after chaotic vote

Two days after Kendall Qualls won the Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement for governor, the party chair says other candidates should feel free to go to the primary anyway. Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash cited the “significant disruption” during the fifth round of balloting during the state convention this past weekend.

Qualls won the endorsement over Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth just after 9 p.m. Saturday, more than 8 hours after voting started. However, late in the process, some of the electronic vote clickers were left open longer than usual, and the total number of voters dropped by several hundred, causing chaos at the convention.

Demuth called for paper balloting but, after a delay, the party moved forward with electronic voting and selected Qualls.

“After review and testing, we remain confident in the integrity of the data, the results reported, and the endorsed candidates chosen by the convention. The Republican Party of Minnesota stands behind those results,” Plechash said, adding, “Kendall Qualls will receive the full support, resources, and organizational backing of the state party.”

At the same time, Plechash acknowledged the electronic voting issue created “unusual circumstances” and “confusion,” and he therefore feels that any candidates — like Demuth — who pledged to abide by the endorsement process shouldn’t be held to that commitment.

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minnesota-gop-stands-by-qualls-but-says-candidates-arent-bound-by-endorsement-pledge-after-chaotic-vote/