The Republican National Convention kicks off today in Ohio, and 43 delegates from Oklahoma are in Cleveland to select Donald Trump as their party’s nominee.
Oklahoma’s Republican delegates are split proportionally. Ted Cruz received the most Super Tuesday primary votes, followed by Trump and Marco Rubio. Cruz earned 15 delegates, Trump has 13 and Rubio receives 12.
Hope Sutterfield is the Stephens County Republican Party chair and a bound Rubio delegate. Even though Trump wasn’t her first pick, she’s fine with supporting him as the nominee.
“It’s always a process of elimination and my first choice didn’t make it and so I’m more than happy, especially when you look at the alternatives, to be supporting Trump,” Sutterfield says.
This year’s RNC will be the first convention for the 23-year-old Sutterfield, who says she was barely old enough to vote in 2012. She says she is excited about representing her state at the convention.
“The national convention is like the Super Bowl for politicos,” Sutterfield says. “I’m just looking forward to the experience.”
Other Oklahomans in attendance will include Governor Mary Fallin and Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm. Both will speak at the convention. Fallin is scheduled to speak on Thursday, the same day that Trump will receive the party’s nomination.
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