Republican Delegates for 3rd District Represent Mixed Bag of Commitments

The Republican delegates chosen by the voters of the 3rd congressional district are a complete mix of candidates, and former congressman, Phil English, shows name recognition plays an important role. He received the most votes in Erie County and the district as a whole while Robert Yates, a Cruz supporter and Lynn Ryan, a Trump campaign choice, jockeyed for second and third place, Yates winning Erie County, but Ryan placing higher in the district overall.

English said earlier he would “consult the results in my district,” and be “strongly inclined to support the candidate most capable of winning the November election,” a disappointing statement since it implies he may go against the wishes of the voters in the district if he so chooses. This position by some delegates is what has generated so much criticism of the process in Pennsylvania. We believe all delegates should vote with the popular vote of the district and then vote their preference if a second ballot becomes necessary. Their preference, if they have one, should be made known before the election.

In any case, Donald Trump won both Erie County with 52.16% and the entire state with 56.76%, a strong majority of the votes, a fact all delegates should keep in mind when the time comes to cast their ballots at the convention in Cleveland.