The Green Papers
2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm Virginia Republican
Presidential Nominating Process
Primary: Tuesday 12 February 2008
Local Mass Meetings, Party Canvasses, Conventions: March - April 2008 (tentative date)
District Conventions: Friday 9 May - Saturday 24 May 2008 (tentative date)
State Convention: Friday 30 May - Saturday 31 May 2008
Republicans
CandidatePopular
Vote
Delegate Votes
Hard TotalFloor Vote
McCain, John Sidney, III244,829  50.04%63 100.00%63 100.00%
Huckabee, Michael Dale "Mike"199,003  40.67%  
Paul, Ronald Ernest "Ron"21,999   4.50%  
Romney, Mitt18,002   3.68%  
Thompson, Fred Dalton3,395   0.69%  
Giuliani, Rudolph William2,024   0.41%  
Total489,252 100.00%63 100.00%63 100.00%

States Chronologically   States Alphabetically     Republican Convention     Virginia Democrat    
 
Virginia Primaries for Statewide offices and Congress
 
Virginia State and Local Government

 
 

Here's how we compute the delegate count (based on uncertified returns from an official source as of 25 February 2008):

  1. McCain, the candidate receiving the most votes statewide, is awarded 63 delegates.


   

Tuesday 12 February 2008: Virginia Primary. The winner of Virginia Republican Primary will receive all of Virginia's 63 votes on the first ballot at the national convention, unless released by the candidate. The Delegates are not bound on any subsequent ballot, or for a vice presidential candidate, or for any particular issue in the platform.

 

March - April 2008 (tentative date): Local Mass Meetings, Party Canvasses, and Conventions:

The election of the actual National Convention delegates (who will be formally pledged to the winner of the Virginia Republican Primary) begins with local meetings held in each independent city and county of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The State Party Plan requires each independent city and county Republican Party to hold a Mass Meeting, Party Canvass or Convention to select delegates to the congressional district conventions and state convention and to elect local Party officials.

A Mass Meeting is comprised of Republican voters for the independent city or county. The Mass Meeting elects a chairman and a secretary. The chairman of the meeting appoints various committees to propose rules for the meeting, check voter registration credentials of the participants, review potential candidates for election at the meeting, and recommend resolutions. The Mass Meeting may have guest speakers in addition to voting. The Mass Meeting is thus a form of a first-tier caucus.
A Party Canvass is similar to a primary, but it is conducted by the Party rather than the government. Republican voters of the independent city or county may vote at scheduled times and places. A Party Canvass is thus a form of "party-run primary" at the most local level.
A local Convention is used less frequently than the other two methods. Delegates for the Independent City or County Convention are elected at either a mass meeting or party canvass that precedes the convention. Only Delegates may vote at an Independent City or County Convention. Large-population localities such as Fairfax County and Richmond City tend to hold such conventions because of the high number of participants which would be involved in either a mass meeting or party canvass without a convention.
 

Friday 9 May - Saturday 24 May 2008 (tentative date): Congressional District Conventions.

Following the local elections, each congressional district will hold a convention and elect three Delegates to the Republican National Convention (who will be pledged to support the winner of the Virginia Republican Primary).

  • The district convention also nominates a Presidential Elector who would represent the district in the Electoral College if the Republican Presidential nominee carries Virginia on Tuesday 4 November 2008. Only duly elected Delegates representing the independent cities and counties of the congressional district may vote at the congressional district convention.
 

Friday 30 May - Saturday 31 May 2008: The State Convention convenes.

The actual selection of delegates to the Republican National Convention will occur at the Republican Party's State and Congressional District Conventions. At-Large Delegates (all of whom will be pledged to support the winner of the Virginia Republican Primary on the first ballot at the national convention) will be selected at the State Convention.

The State Convention chooses 3 party leader delegates (a State Party Chairman is elected; and a National Committeeman and a National Committeewoman are nominated) all of whom will attend the Republican National Convention officially pledged to support the winner of the Virginia Republican Primary on the first ballot at the national convention.

  • The State Convention nominates two At-Large Presidential Electors to serve in the Electoral College if the Republican Presidential nominee carries Virginia on Tuesday 4 November 2008. Only duly elected Delegates representing the each of the independent cities and counties in Virginia may vote at the State Convention.

 


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Documentation
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  Primary/Caucus/Convention Glossary  
 
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