The Nevada GOP is sending 30 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, next week. Reno Public Radio's Julia Ritchey talks to a first-time attendee who'll be the youngest member of the state's delegation.
At 19 years old, Reno High graduate Ryder Haag will be casting his first vote in a presidential election this year. It will also be his first time serving as a national delegate.
Like other Republicans, his road to supporting Trump was winding. He initially voted for Marco Rubio in the caucus.
"It was one of those things where, just for a younger Republican, he worked for me. However, since my precinct voted for Donald Trump, and they were the ones that wanted him, and since they were the ones who elected me in, it was my job to represent my precinct."
After securing a spot as a national delegate, Haag started a crowdfunding page to raise the $3,000 necessary to attend. Although some delegates have threatened to contest Trump's nomination in Cleveland, Haag is more optimistic about it.
"I don't think it's going to happen. They really don't have enough supporters, and even if they did, I think they're going to do the right thing and vote for who they are bound to, and Donald Trump has that majority."
When Haag returns, he plans to volunteer with the Nevada GOP and prepare for his first semester of college at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he'll be majoring in — what else? — political science.
