2020 California Republican presidential primary explained
| Election Name: | 2020 California Republican presidential primary |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 California Republican primary |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 California Republican primary |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | March 3, 2020 |
| Outgoing Members: | AR |
| Elected Members: | CO |
| Image1: | File:Donald Trump official portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Donald Trump |
| Color1: | 283681 |
| Home State1: | Florida[1] |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,279,120 |
| Percentage1: | 92.21% |
| Delegate Count1: | 172 |
| Candidate2: | Bill Weld |
| Color2: | 00A9E0 |
| Home State2: | Massachusetts |
| Popular Vote2: | 66,904 |
| Percentage2: | 2.7% |
| Delegate Count2: | 0 |
The 2020 California Republican presidential primary took place on March 3, 2020.[2]
California primary election law
See main article: California Senate Bill 27. On July 30, 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 27 (SB 27) into law, effective immediately, requiring that all presidential candidates release five years of tax returns in order to be eligible for the state primary.[3] [4] In August 2019, Trump sued the State of California, seeking to block implementation of the law SB 27, asserting that the law is unconstitutional.[5] On September 19, 2019, U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England issued a temporary injunction blocking the law from taking effect.[5] California is appealing; California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said: "Our elected leaders have a legal and moral obligation to be transparent with voters about potential conflicts of interest. This law is fundamental to preserving and protecting American democracy."[6]
California's Supreme Court ruled that Senate Bill 27 could not come into effect.[7] According to The Sacramento Bee, this means that "President Donald Trump won't have to release his tax returns to get on California's 2020 primary ballot".
Alternative convention
After Governor Newsom signed the bill, the Republican state committee met in emergency session to set up an alternative convention in order to give him all their delegates should the secretary of the state bar him because of his refusal to submit his taxes.[8]
After the supreme court's action in November 2019, plans for an alternative convention were shelved.
Candidates
To qualify for ballot access, a candidate must be determined by the Secretary of State to be a generally-recognized candidate, or by circulating nomination papers.[9]
"Generally advocated for or recognized candidate" or "recognized candidate" means an individual who has an authorized campaign committee registered with the Federal Election Commission for the office of President of the United States and submits proof of at least one of the following criteria:
- a. qualified for funding under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 30101, et seq.)
- b. —appeared as a candidate in a national presidential debate hosted by a political party qualified to participate in a primary election, with at least two participating candidates, and publicly available for viewing by voters in more than one state during the current presidential election cycle. A "political party qualified to participate in a primary election" means any political party qualified in California, a major or minor-ballot qualified political party in another state, or a national committee of a political party recognized by the Federal Election Commission.
- c. placed or qualified for placement on a presidential primary ballot or a caucus ballot of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle.
- d. candidate or qualified to be a candidate in a caucus of a major or minor ballot-qualified political party in at least one other state in the current presidential election cycle.
- e. has the following: current presidential campaign internet website or webpage hosted by the candidate or a qualified political party, and a written request submitted on the candidate's behalf by a party qualified to participate in the primary election to the Secretary of State requesting the candidate be placed on the presidential primary ballot. §§ 6000.11, 6000.2
Among the challengers to incumbent President Donald Trump who had submitted their applications with enough qualifications were New York advertising executive Robert Ardini and Manhattan Beach attorney Matthew Matern.[10]
Results
2020 California Republican presidential primary[11] | Candidate | Votes | % | Estimated
delegates |
|---|
| 2,279,120 | 92.2% | 172 |
| 66,904 | 2.7% | 0 |
| (withdrawn) | 64,749 | 2.6% | 0 |
| 24,351 | 1.0% | 0 |
| 15,469 | 0.6% | 0 |
| 12,857 | 0.5% | 0 |
| 8,141 | 0.3% | 0 |
| Total | 2,471,591 | 100% | | |
|---|
See also
References
- News: Trump, a symbol of New York, is officially a Floridian now. Politico. October 31, 2019. February 3, 2020. Matthew Choi.
- Web site: March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. League of Women Voters. November 27, 2018 . November 27, 2019.
- News: Medina. Jennifer. Karni. Annie. California Requires Trump Tax Returns Under New Election Law. July 30, 2019. The New York Times. July 30, 2019.
- News: California governor signs law that would require Trump to release tax returns. July 30, 2019. The Guardian. Associated Press. July 30, 2019.
- News: Federal judge blocks California law to force disclosure of Trump's tax returns. September 19, 2019. Los Angeles Times. John Myers.
- News: John Myers. California will appeal judge's decision to block law requiring Trump's tax returns. Los Angeles Times. October 2, 2019.
- Web site: California can't force Donald Trump to release tax returns, state Supreme Court rules. Anderson. Bryan. November 21, 2019. The Sacramento Bee. November 21, 2019.
- Web site: California GOP opens path to send delegates to 2020 convention even if Trump isn't on ballot. Chris Mills Rodrigo. September 8, 2019. The Hill. November 27, 2019.
- Web site: Presidential Primary Election - March 3, 2020. California Secretary of State. November 22, 2019. November 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191116021513/https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/presidential-primary-election-march-3-2020/. dead.
- Web site: Newsletter: Presidential hopefuls face a big California ballot deadline this week. November 25, 2019. Los Angeles Times.
- Web site: California Republican Primary Results . electionresults.sos.ca.gov . March 20, 2020.
