MILWAUKEE (WCAX) – Delegates at the Republican National Convention made it official on Monday, voting for former president Donald Trump as the party’s presidential candidate. A contingent of Vermonters are in Milwaukee at the RNC where they all cast their votes for Trump.
Ambassador Nikki Haley won the primary in Vermont, meaning she would have gotten nine delegates and Trump would have gotten eight, but Haley has since dropped out.
Gerald Malloy, who is also running for U.S. Senate in Vermont, is one of the lead delegates. He says the failed assassination attempt on the former president over the weekend has electrified the crowd in Milwaukee and is bringing the party together.
Vermont is arguably one of the bluest states in the country and went for President Joe Biden last cycle, but Malloy tells me he hopes the convention energizes the base in Vermont.
“Let’s be honest, I know President Trump is not popular with Vermonters but it’s not a personality contest; it’s about delivering results for the country. It’s important for us to get behind who is going to be the next president,” Malloy said.
The convention also gives party faithful an opportunity to meet with other party insiders from other states. Malloy hopes the Vermont delegation will bring back strategies for fundraising and political messaging.
The convention is expected to run through Thursday.