Donald Trump tore into the Virginia Republican party in a Twitter rant on Sunday, criticizing the state GOP’s decision to require residents voting in the Republican primary to sign a statement signaling their loyalty to the Republican party.
It begins, Republican Party of Virginia, controlled by the RNC, is working hard to disallow independent, unaffiliated and new voters. BAD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
R.P.Virginia has lost statewide 7 times in a row. Will now not allow desperately needed new voters. Suicidal mistake. RNC MUST ACT NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
The voters the Republican Party of Virginia are excluding will doom any chance of victory. The Dems LOVE IT! Be smart and win for a change!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
Straighten out The Republican Party of Virginia before it is too late. Stupid! RNC
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015
Hopefully the Republican National Committee can straighten out the total mess that is taking place in Virginia’s Republican Party. FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2015
Voters in Virginia are not required to register with a party in order to vote in a primary, and instead choose a party ballot when they arrive at the polls.
The Virginia state Board of Elections on Dec. 16 approved a Republican party’s proposal that those who vote in the GOP primary must sign a form declaring that they are Republicans.
John Findlay, the executive director of the Virginia GOP, said that the form is simply a way “to ensure Republican voters select our Republican nominee in 2016.”
“As this Statement of Affiliation gets discussed, many in the media are misconstruing its intent and terminology. It is not an ‘oath’ or ‘pledge’ in any way. It is not targeting any candidate, group of voters or an unreasonable barrier to voting. These nine words were used specifically to avoid any confusion or reference to past attempts,” he said in a Dec. 17 statement. “Requiring the signing of a Statement is a far lower barrier to participation than in States that require Party registration for voters participation in primaries.”
