There are nine candidates seeking three positions as delegate to the Republican National Convention in next week’s primary election — and five have said they will represent the voters’ choice.
There will be a total of 71 delegates representing Pennsylvania; 54 of which are directly elected separately from a presidential preference. The delegates are not bound by the voters’ choice of presidential candidate.
However, five of the candidates vying for the title of delegate for the 5th Congressional District have promised to vote with the will of the people.
Candidates Ash Khare of Warren, Joyce Haas of Patton, Sheila Fitzgerald Sterrett of Harborcreek, Scott Schreffler of Pinegrove Township and Arnold McClure of Shirley Township told The Era on Tuesday they would support the candidate chosen by the 5th District voters.
The remaining four candidates have already decided which candidate they will back — regardless of what the voters decide.
Three candidates indicated support of candidate Ted Cruz at the convention — Bradford man Lyle Stewart, Barry Kroeker of Bellefonte and Richard Chura of State College.
James Feuer Klein of Spring Mills did not immediately return a message to The Era, but has publicly said he will support candidate Donald Trump at the convention.
In the event of a contested or brokered convention — if no presidential candidate wins a majority of delegates — the delegates would be tasked with voting for a candidate to appear on the ballot.
Should that happen, the choices for most candidates for delegates are a little less clear.
Stewart, Kroeker and Chura all indicated it would be Cruz — “I am planning to vote for Cruz until he tells me not to,” Kroeker said.
Haas said a contested ballot will be less straight-forward. “We don’t know who will still be there. It’s hard to even know where to go with that. I would think the Pennsylvania delegates would all get together and would discuss what is the best thing for the state and the country.”
Sterrett added she is “undecided and uncommitted on future ballot votes.”
McClure, Schreffler and Khare have indicated they will continue to vote the way of the district’s voters. “Whoever it is, I’m sticking with it,” McClure said.
