The premier news source for Snohomish County

OLYMPIA—With the countdown to the hotly contested General Election underway, both Democratic and Republican parties have submitted their names for the 2024 Presidential Primary ballot.

The Washington State Republican Party (WSRP) has confirmed with the Lynnwood Times that the five candidate names for its 2024 Presidential Primary ballot are: The 45^th President of the United States President Donald J Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. A political unknown from Texas, Ryan Binkley, who is President and CEO of the merger and acquisitions investment company Generation Group, just missed the WSRP’s deadline.

“With five candidates, we have a crowded ballot this year,” Jim Walsh, WSRP Chair, told the Lynnwood Times. “Our base is energized, and we expect strong numbers for the Presidential Primary.”

Washington State Democratic Party (WA Democrats) Chair Shasti Conrad shared the same enthusiasm when asked about her thoughts on the upcoming Presidential Primary.

“We are excited about the Primary and excited to have folks participate,” Conrad told the Lynnwood Times.

She confirmed that currently United States President Joe Biden and Representative Dean Phillips (MN-03) have qualified for the Democratic 2024 Presidential Primary ballot. The signatures for a possible third candidate, author and political activist Marianne Williamson, have been turned into the Washington Secretary of State’s Office and are awaiting verification, Conrad said.

Under RCW 29A.56.031, each major political party has until January 9 to submit candidate names for the Presidential Primary. The 2024 Presidential Primary is scheduled to be held on March 12 with the Secretary of State certifying results no later than March 29. Every registered voter should receive a mailed ballot packet just after February 23.

Despite both the Colorado state courts’ ruling and Maine’s Secretary of State’s unilateral ruling to disqualify the former President Trump from their states’ Primary, it is confirmed by both state election offices that Trump’s name will remain on each states’ respective ballot.

The Republican Party 2024 Presidential Nomination Process

The WSRP is holding its 2024 Washington State Republican Convention in Spokane between April 18 and 20 to select the delegates for the 2024 National Convention who will officially nominate the 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate. However, for Republicans, the road to the national convention starts with the Precinct Caucuses on January 13, to become a delegate. This is the first and only opportunity for a registered voter to become a delegate.

One simply shows up at the designated precinct caucus location to be nominated as a delegate to the County Convention. Some county parties will have pre-registration to ease the check-in process, but not required. All caucus locations will start official business (call to order) promptly at 10 a.m. on January 13—arrive early for check-in. Caucuses are expected to conclude before noon. To locate any statewide Republican Precinct Caucus, click here. For Snohomish County Republican Party Precinct only locations click here and select the “Download Caucus Location Spreadsheet Here” button.

If elected as a delegate at the Precinct Caucus to the County Convention, a similar process is employed at the County Convention to be elected as a state delegate to the State Convention. The convention rules allow for roughly 2,500 state delegates to be elected from the county conventions. If elected as a state delegate, a similar process is employed at the State Convention, however, only 43 delegates are elected by fellow state delegates to represent Washington State at the Republican National Convention from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee.

The winner of the 2024 Presidential Primary on March 12 is the preferred nominee, and the delegates are bound to cast their votes for this candidate. However, if no Republican Presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention receives a least 1,235 of 2,469 delegates in the first round of voting, then delegates are no longer required to vote for the winner of the Washington State 2024 Presidential Primary.

Below are key dates for Republicans leading to the 2024 General Election:

• Republican Precinct Caucuses – January 13, 2024
• Republican County Conventions – January 20 – March 16, 2024 (Check specific
• 2024 Presidential Primary Election – March 12, 2024 (U.S. President only)
• 2024 Republican State Convention – April 18-20, 2024
• Republican National Convention – July 15-18, 2024
• WA State Primary Election – August 6, 2024 (Local, state, and federal races other than U.S. President)
• WA State General Election – November 5, 2024 (Presidential, Local, state, and federal races)

Former Washington State Senator Don Benton, Chair of the Donald J Trump for President Campaign for the Northwest, says that the former president is the only candidate who will restore the rule of law and end government corruption.

“Our government, at every level, is out of control and needs to be reigned-in significantly,” Benton told the Lynnwood Times. “There is only one person that can and will do that, his name is Donald J Trump. The establishment elites on both sides of the political aisle that profit from government will stop at nothing to stop Donald Trump. They know he is beyond reproach, and he will not stop until America is cleaned up and is back on track constitutionally.

“If people really want to save their country and be sure we return to the rule of law for everybody, you must vote for Trump even if you don’t like his personality. Trump keeps his word and does what he says. That is what we desperately need in America at every level of politics instead of the long list of promises delivered by typical politicians that never materialize.”

Washington State Republican Party Finance Chairman Hossein Khorram who is on the Ron DeSantis for President Leadership Team, told the Lynnwood Times that he believes Trump’s legal troubles present a liability for the Republican Party.

“Although I really like President Trump, I don’t want to see a repeat of 2020 or 2022 general elections.” Khorram said. “I feel the Left has totally changed the narrative from failed Biden policies to this circus about President Trump’s legal issues! With all this native stigma fabricated and attributed to President Trump’s personality I find it very different to expect enough Independents to vote for President Trump to win the General Election against President Biden.

“Governor DeSantis actions and thoughts are very disciplined, coordinated, and targeted, unlike President Trump’s with action centered around him and his personality which is very charismatic.”

Khorram anticipates a repeat of 2016 where instead of Ted Cruz supporters, DeSantis delegates will dominate the Washington Delegation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“Just like 2016 I expect most RNC Delegates to back Governor DeSantis since RNC Delegates come from the ranks of the most experienced GOP operatives with good understanding elections,” Khorram said.

The Trump campaign isn’t taking any chances. Currently the campaign is sending out a barrage of text messages to Trump’s supporter base throughout Washington state to flood the Republican Precinct Caucuses on January 13 to secure the votes at the Republican National Convention.

“Save your country and give two hours this weekend to be a delegate for President Donald J Trump,” Benton asks of registered voters.

WSRP Chair Jim Walsh told the Lynnwood Times that Trump has a strong base within the Republican Party because he is a “phenomenon.” However, Walsh shared not to count out South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

“Nikki Haley currently seems to have momentum in terms of support here in the state,” Walsh said.

Whatever the outcome of the Presidential race, Walsh is eying success for Republicans at the state-level in 2024 because of the monumental success of six landmark initiatives he anticipates will be on the General Election ballot.

“Here in Washington the initiatives are going to change the dynamics of the General Election,” said Walsh. “These [the initiatives] are going to motivate people that haven’t voted in past election cycles. Some of these initiatives have strong Democratic voter support which is going to change up the traditional Democrat and Republican lines.”

The Democratic Party 2024 Presidential Nomination Process

Washington State Democratic Party will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the 2024 Presidential Primary on March 12 for apportioning delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The State presidential primary election is a “binding” primary. These delegates, along with superdelegates who come from the Party’s leadership, vote at the convention to select the nominee.

If a Democratic Presidential candidate at the national convention does not receive at least 1,895 pledged delegates on the first round of voting, superdelegates are then able to vote until a candidate receives at least 2,258 votes.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention will be held between August 19 to 22, in Chicago. Washington’s national delegates will join Democrats from across the nation to hear from Party leaders, interact with other delegates, and formally nominate the Democratic Party’s 2024 candidates for President and Vice President of the United States.

Participation in WA Democrats delegate selection process is open to all registered voters eligible to vote by November 5, 2024, who wish to participate as Democrats. WA Democrats will have 111 voting delegates and 8 alternates at the national convention, along with 12 standing committee members and 4 convention pages. The Party’s Delegate Selection Plan specifies how and when each delegate will be elected—specifically Sections III and IV. To become a state or national delegate, click here.

The WA Democrats Delegation of 111 members who will be eligible to vote at the 2024 Democratic National Convention include:

• 60 elected delegates from the state’s ten congressional districts
• 20 elected at-large delegates
• 12 elected “party leader and elected official” delegates
• 19 automatic delegates

In addition to the 111-member delegation are 8 at-large elected alternates to attend the 2024 National Convention.

Congressional district-level delegates will be elected by the Legislative District-level delegates to the Washington State Democratic Convention. The Legislative District caucuses shall be held on Saturday, April 6, commencing at 10:00 a.m. The time of the Legislative District caucuses shall be announced no later than Friday, March 22, 2024.

Legislative District caucuses will have all delegate candidates divided first into Congressional District sub-allocations based on the portion of the Legislative District within that Congressional District and secondly divided by singular presidential preference.

Below are key dates for Democrats leading to the 2024 General Election:

• Forms Available to become a delegate – January 5, 2024
• State Level Pledged Delegates nomination period open – January 28 to March 31
• 2024 Presidential Primary Election – March 12, 2024 (U.S. President only)
• State Level Delegates elected – April 6, 2024
• Deadline to declare for National Delegate – May 12, 2024
• National Delegates elected by Congressional District – May 17, 2024
• Deadline for PLEO/At-large National Delegate – June 2, 2024
• Remainder of Delegation chosen via virtual ballot – June 9, 2024
• 2024 Democratic Washington State Convention – June 21 to 23
• WA State Primary Election – August 6, 2024 (Local, state, and federal races other than U.S. President)
• Democratic National Convention – August 19 to 22
• WA State General Election – November 5, 2024 (Presidential, Local, state, and federal races)

Real Clear Politics 2024 Presidential Polling Data

According to the latest Real Clear Politics aggregate 2024 Republican Presidential polling data from several pollsters as of January 2, the 45th President of the United States President Donald J Trump is leading the nearest challenger, Nikki Haley, by 51.7 points. Currently, Trump leads with 62.7%, Haley with 11%, DeSantis with 10.9%, Ramaswamy with 4.3%, and Chistie with 3.3%.

According to the latest Real Clear Politics aggregate 2024 Democratic Presidential polling data from several pollsters as of December 29, United States President Joe Biden is leading the nearest challenger, Marianne Williamson by 61 points. Currently, Biden leads with 68.3%, Williamson with 7.8%, and Phillips with 3.1%.

Author: Mario Lotmore