Nevada Republicans are gearing up for their state convention this weekend — the last step in the state's three-tier presidential nominating process.
Republicans will be selecting 27 of their 30 delegates at the Reno Events Center this weekend to send to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July.
Fourteen of those delegates will be bound to Donald Trump, who easily won the state's Feb. 23 caucus. The others will be divided among Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and John Kasich — who while no longer in the race, have chosen to keep their delegates.
"I think we'll have a very civil convention,” says Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald. “Everyone comes there to exercise their rights, we definitely welcome that, but it's going to be very orderly."
Robert Uithoven, a political consultant and former state director of Ted Cruz's campaign, says he's not so sure.
"I think it could be contentious just looking at the draft agenda on the Republican Party web page. It looks like there are a lot of things that they're trying to cram into a short amount of time."
Republicans at the convention will also be voting on a party platform, rules and pre-primary endorsements of GOP candidates.
“Trying to stick to an agenda on a convention floor, especially if it gets contentious, can be very difficult,” says Uithoven.
Organizers hope to have the process wrapped up on Saturday, but McDonald says it’s possible it could spill into Sunday.
Although several high-profile lawmakers, including Gov. Brian Sandoval, are opting out of the convention this year, Uithoven says he hopes to be selected as a national delegate.
“I would’ve loved to have been going to Cleveland on behalf of Ted Cruz,” he says, “but, you know, if you’re a true political nerd, it’s a cool place to be.”
