Party Chairman Ron Nehring says convention-goers will vote up or down on a measure to portion out the state’s 55 electoral votes. Instead of the winner-take-all method that’s used now, votes would be passed out according to the victor in each of the 53 congressional districts. The 2 extra would go to the statewide winner. Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore says it would significantly change the Presidential election:
“Everybody’s assuming that California’s 55 electoral college votes will automatically go to the D column when we have our election next year and this would probably peel of 19-21 electoral college votes in Republican districts.”
Democrats have come out strongly against the measure. In a recent statement, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein called it a “power grab” orchestrated by Republicans. Supporters of the measure have been cleared to being gathering signatures to get it on the June ballot.
A Democratic-backed committee will begin airing radio ads against the proposal tomorrow in several cities.