What’s usually a routine vote on the Republican National Convention’s rules slate descended into chaos on Monday afternoon as anti-Donald Trump delegates tried to force a state-by-state roll call vote.
The push for a roll call vote was viewed as a last stand for anti-Trump forces, who said they had a majority of signatures from at least nine delegations, more than necessary to force the vote. But the convention chair eventually ruled that the #NeverTrump crew’s petition wasn’t sufficient to force such a vote and the rules were adopted by voice vote.
Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) approved the rules and left the stage. Shortly after he appeared again for a second voice vote, declaring that the ‘ayes’ won again even as the crowd started chanting protests over the vote:
Delegates chant for a roll call vote at the #gopconvention pic.twitter.com/gLamluzipy
— POLITICO (@politico) July 18, 2016
TPM’s Tierney Sneed captured video of some delegates chanting “roll call vote”:
Utah Sen. Mike Lee called the situation on the floor “surreal.”
There were also reports that the Colorado delegation stormed off the arena floor over the vote:
Colorado delegation has left the floor. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/VliUMy8pNp
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 18, 2016
Others from the Virginia delegation shouted down the rules chair:
Scene from the Virginia delegation pic.twitter.com/6SwPTfS2CP
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) July 18, 2016
VIDEO: Virginia delegates shout “hold the vote! Hold the vote!” pic.twitter.com/xKj7lfeeLc
— Ed O’Keefe (@edatpost) July 18, 2016
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a delegate from that state, was also visibly upset by the proceedings. He reportedly threw his credentials to the floor at one point:
“This is pretty disgusting,” Cuccinelli says
— DENALI (@timothypmurphy) July 18, 2016
“They cheated, that’s what you just saw, they violated their own rules.” — Cuccinelli #RNCinCLE
— Geoffrey Skelley (@geoffreyvs) July 18, 2016
Watching on TV, I just saw @KenCuccinelli take off his credentials, throw them on the floor, and walk away. #RNCinCLE
— Kelly Jane Torrance (@KJTorrance) July 18, 2016
