GOP Rep.: Party Could Split If Cruz Wins Nomination At Contested Convention

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 08: Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, speaks with reporters at the 2014 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, August 8, 2014. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
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Rep. Steve King (R-IA), who has endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), said on Tuesday that the Republican party could split if Cruz wins the presidential nomination over Donald Trump on the second ballot at the July convention.

“If the establishment comes in and tries to amend the rules to disadvantage either of those top two candidates or to advantage either one of those top two candidates, I think that there could be chaos erupt [sic] in Cleveland. And the result of that could be a party that could be split,” King said on the “Frankly Speaking” radio show, according to audio posted by Buzzfeed News.

He then said that the greatest risk to the party would be a Cruz win at a contested convention.

“The greater risk for the split of the party, though, would be if say we get to convention, nobody’s got the 1,237 and on a subsequent ballot, a second or subsequent ballot, if Ted Cruz wins the nomination –– which I would predict if there’s a second or subsequent ballot — and if Donald Trump decides to say, take his ball and go home, or go run on an independent ticket, that would be what would split the party,” King said.

“That’s more likely than having the establishment take over in Cleveland because they just don’t have the numbers among the delegates,” he added. “If they’re gonna take over, they have to essentially dupe the delegates to do that, and I don’t think they’re gonna be easily duped. These are astute people that are arriving in Cleveland.”

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