Archived Story

GOP’s new presidential caucus a step in the right direction
By WILL DESCHAMPS

Dawn Wakefield’s letter to the editor of Jan. 28 illustrates some of the common misconceptions regarding the presidential primary process in Montana, and underscores the need for updating the way Montanans participate in that process.

First, the author claims to be a “lifelong registered Republican,” and while we appreciate her continued support for Republicans, in Montana there is no such thing as a “registered Republican.” Montana law does not allow for voter registration by party.

More important, however, is the greater misconception that surrounds Montana’s primary vote for president. Any Montanan can still cast a vote in the Republican presidential primary on June 3 as they always have, and that vote will carry the same weight that it always did.

Unfortunately, that vote has no real weight in the presidential election, and hasn’t for decades. Each party’s candidate for president is elected by delegates at the national conventions. Prior to the enactment of the Republican presidential preference caucus, the Republican delegates were not required to support the winner of the Montana primary at the convention n they simply decided who to support on their own. That’s right n in the past only 25 people were empowered to decide who won Montana’s delegates. However, under the new system, the Montana delegates to the Republican National Convention are required to vote for the winner of the caucus on the first ballot, which means that a couple thousand people now get to weigh in on a decision that historically has only involved only a couple dozen people. That’s a step in the right direction.

In addition, the Montana primary is so late in the process (second to last) that the nomination is typically already decided by the time we get to vote. This leaves Montanans with no true choice in the presidential primary, and it lets presidential campaigns ignore Montana because they know we’ll simply fall in line after other states have made the decision for us. This is unacceptable.

Republicans in the Legislature, Democrat Gov. Schweitzer, and Republican Secretary of State Johnson all supported a bill to move the entire statewide presidential primary to early February, but that bill was killed in the Democratic-controlled Senate. So Montana Republicans were left with a choice: do nothing and be ignored one more time, or try to give Montana a voice at a time when it’s relevant to the process. We chose to try something new and give Montanans some voice in the process.

The results of that choice speak for themselves. We’ve had six presidential campaigns active in Montana, including public events from four campaigns in Montana last weekend alone. We’ve seen more activity from national campaigns than ever before.

In the end, that increased attention and activity is good for Montana, and while the presidential caucus isn’t the full primary many of us want, it’s a strong step in the right direction. Despite what opponents would have you believe, the caucus involves more people in the decision making process, not less, and it’s energized folks in every corner of the state to get involved in a race where we are historically ignored.

Montanans can’t be content with being irrelevant, and Republicans are committed to moving forward the debate and fighting to make Montana a state that gets to participate in the presidential primary.

Will Deschamps is Missoula County Republican Central Committee chairman.
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