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MPR News Staff

State GOP chair: Delegate selection matters more than ever this year

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz
Donald Trump speaks as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, listens during a Republican presidential debate sponsored by CNN, Salem Media Group and the Washington Times at the University of Miami last month in Coral Gables, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee | AP

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For years, presidential nominees have won on the first ballot at their national political conventions, when delegates are required to vote for a specific candidate. Because of that, decisions delegates might have made after the first ballot typically haven't mattered.

But not this year, especially for Republicans. Some national party leaders are working hard to deny Donald Trump enough delegates to win on the first ballot.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Keith Downey, chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, about how delegates are picked and why who gets to be in the delegation could change the race this year.