Delegates Unbound

American political organization established 2016

Delegates UnboundFounder| Eric O'Keefe,
Dane Waters

|

Type| 501(c)(4) non-profit organization
Methods| Education, book publication, television advertising

Delegates Unbound is an American non-profit political organization established in 2016. According to the organization, the group is "working to bring long term reform to the Republican Party."

## Purpose

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The group states that its "primary focus" is educating delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention "that they are unbound and free to vote as they see fit on all matters before the Republican National Convention, including whomever they wish to be the Republican nominee for President" in the 2016 presidential election.

## Overview

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In June 2016, activists Eric O'Keefe and Dane Waters formed Delegates Unbound, which CNN described as "an effort to convince delegates that they have the authority and the ability to vote for whomever they want."[1][2][3] The group is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.[4]

Delegates Unbound published a book, Unbound: The Conscience of a Republican Delegate, written by Republican delegates Curly Haugland and Sean Parnell. The book, funded by the Citizens in Charge Foundation, argues that "delegates are not bound to vote for any particular candidate based on primary and caucus results, state party rules, or even state law."[5][6]

According to the group, "There is no language supporting binding in the temporary rules of the convention, which are the only rules that matter" and "barring any rules changes at the convention, delegates can vote their conscience on the first ballot."[7] The group's co-founder, Eric O'Keefe, said, "Our goal is simple, to ensure the delegates are not misled to believe they must follow orders or rules set by others."[8] O'Keefe added that he believes state laws and state party rules purporting to bind delegates to a particular candidate based on primary or caucus results are unenforceable and would lose a court challenge.[9]

Delegates Unbound began airing national television advertisements in late June 2016. The group's first advertisement spliced together clips of President Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump and urged Republican delegates to follow their consciences. The group planned to spend $2.5 million to $3.5 million on education and anti-Trump efforts.[8][10]

## See also

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* Free the Delegates
* Stop Trump movement
* Our Principles PAC - an anti-Trump outside group that worked to elect anti-Trump delegates.[11]

## References

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1. ^ LoBianco, Tom; Kopan, Tal (June 17, 2016). "RNC delegates launch 'Anybody but Trump' drive". CNN. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
2. ^ Bash, Dana; Raju, Manu (June 17, 2016). "How the GOP could cut ties with Donald Trump". CNN. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
3. ^ O'Keefe, Eric; Rivkin, David (June 13, 2016). "Release the GOP Delegates". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
4. ^ Hillyard, Vaughn (June 24, 2016). "Anti-Trump Group to Launch TV Ads". NBC News. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
5. ^ Livengood, Chad (June 17, 2016). "Two Mich. GOP delegates join new plot to dump Trump". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
6. ^ "Delegates Unbound cites Donald Trump in TV ad". WPMT. CNN Wire. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
7. ^ "Recommendation of Brad Namdar Withdrawn in the GOP Primary". February 12, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
8. ^ a b Peters, Jeremy (June 24, 2016). "Dump-Trump Group to Show Ad Aimed at G.O.P. Delegates". New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
9. ^ Epstein, Reid (June 24, 2016). "Anti-Trump Group to Air TV Ads Aimed at GOP Convention Delegates". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
10. ^ Kopan, Tal (June 24, 2016). "Delegates Unbound cites Donald Trump in TV ad". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
11. ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann (April 27, 2016). "Trump Wins Big Among Pennsylvania's Unbound Delegates". NBC News. Retrieved June 27, 2016.

## External links

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* Delegates Unbound advertisement "Follow Your Conscience", via CNN News

* v
* t
* e

Never Trump movement

Groups|

* 43 Alumni for America
* The Bulwark
* Delegates Unbound
* Free the Delegates
* Haley Voters for Harris
* The Lincoln Project
* TV series
* MeidasTouch
* Our Principles PAC
* Republican Accountability Project
* Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform
* Republicans for the Rule of Law
* Right Side PAC
* Vote Common Good

Opposition to
presidential campaigns|

* Republicans opposition in the 2016 campaign
* Mitt Romney's 2016 speech
* Republicans opposition in the 2020 campaign
* Mark Sanford presidential campaign
* Joe Walsh presidential campaign
* Bill Weld presidential campaign
* Trump administration officials who endorsed Joe Biden
* Republicans opposition in the 2024 campaign
* Trump administration officials who endorsed Kamala Harris

Other 2016 efforts|

* Evan McMullin 2016 presidential campaign
* Faithless electors in the 2016 United States presidential election
* Chiafalo v. Washington

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