Delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 19, 2016. Photo from RNC / Facebook
Donald Trump was officially named as his party's nominee for president at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. The real estate mogul wasn't in Cleveland, Ohio, in person to witness his coronation. Had he been there, he would have seen the Alaska delegation -- which includes at least one Native citizen -- erupt in anger after all of the state's votes were given to Trump. “The RNC interpreted our state party rules incorrectly. Our vote on the floor went forward the way Alaskans wanted them to. We honored the voters of Alaska: 12 for Cruz, 11 for Trump and 5 for Rubio," Alaska Republican Party Chairman Tuckerman Babcoc said in a statement in the evening. "We regret that the RNC did not discuss this with the Alaska delegation." The Alaska delegation at the RNC includes Jerry Ward, a former state lawmaker who is Athabaskan. He is a Trump supporter -- he chairs the candidate's Alaska effort -- but was surprised when party officials ignored the state's allocation, Alaska Dispatch News reported.
.@SamuelMoore @GOPconvention @XtratufBoots They are sweltering in their kuspuks, so some of them are not able to wear them right now.
— Alaska GOP (@akgop) July 19, 2016
“We just corrected the record. And we also now changed our rules to be more clear. We’re clear now,” Ward told The Daily Caller. With his traditional vest, Ward has been seen prominently in photos at the convention. The delegation's official jacket is a blue version of a kuspuk, a Native item of clothing. The kuspuk also has been seen prominently in photos but the Alaska party said the temperatures in Cleveland have prevented some from wearing the jacket comfortably. "They are sweltering in their kuspuks, so some of them are not able to wear them right now," the party said on Twitter when an Alaskan asked about the item. Trump made a brief appearance on Monday night to introduce his wife Melania before her controversial speech and gave some brief remarks by video after winning the nomination on Tuesday. He is due to return to Cleveland on Wednesday. The convention wraps up on Thursday. Get the Story:
Day 2: Dispatches from Cleveland - Alaska at the Republican National Convention (Alaska Dispatch News 7/19)
For Alaska delegates, GOP rules fracas wasn't about Donald Trump (Alaska Dispatch News 7/19)
Republican National Convention: As Trump captures nomination, former rivals prepare to take the stage (The Washington Post 7/20)
Donald Trump Claims Nomination, With Discord Clear but Family Cheering (The New York Times 7/20) Republican Party Platform Documents:
2016: Honoring Our Relationship with American Indians | 2012: Honoring Our Relationship with American Indians | 2008: Supporting Native American Communities | 2004: Native Americans | 2000: Native Americans
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