CLEVELAND — Colorado delegates against Donald Trump on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, seeking to block his nomination in a last-ditch move that led to chaos in Cleveland.
The “Never Trump” , predominantly social conservatives and Ted Cruz allies, demanded a roll call of the states to challenge the convention rules that bind delegates to the winner of their state’s primary or caucus.
The rules guarantee Trump’s nomination as the Republican candidate for president. But if altered to allow delegates to vote their conscience, Trump may not reach the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.
Republican leaders moved quickly to silence the effort — eager to present an image of unity despite a fractured party — and approved the rules on a debatable voice-vote that sparked a shouting match on the floor.
“Roll call vote, roll call vote,” members of the Colorado delegation chanted from their seats, far from the stage at the Quicken Loans Arena.
“Trump! Trump! Trump!” the New York billionaire’s supporters shouted in return.
Most of the Colorado delegation, as well as other sympathizers, staged a walkout to object to what it considered a power grab.
The Colorado delegation now
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs)
“We were just completely robbed,” said , a Colorado delegate and a leader in the “Free the Delegates” movement that is part of the Delegates Unbound coalition scheming to upset Trump.
Moments later, Arkansas U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, the convention’s presiding chairman, reconsidered the voice vote, and the Colorado delegates returned to the floor.
The anti-Trump forces filed a petition signed by a majority of nine state delegations to force a vote on the rules, more than the seven required. But the convention officials ruled it insufficient after three states backed down amid arm-twisting from the Trump camp.
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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Delegates pose for an official convention photograph on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
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Kansas delegate Beverly Gossage cheers as Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., speaks during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Former Republican presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich chat before the evening session on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
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Jeff Barke from Orange County, Calif., walks around the convention floor during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Darryl Glenn delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke salutes the crowd prior to delivering a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
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Florida delegate Dana Dougherty holds a Donald Trump doll on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
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Former Texas Governor Rick Perry delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
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Andrew Christie, right, takes a photo of a delegate and his father, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie while attending the first day of the Republican National Convention along with his son Andrew Christie, right, on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
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Donald Trump supporters attend a rally in downtown Cleveland in the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in downtown Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The convention runs through July 21.
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Journalists talk with a man openly carrying a gun in downtown on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
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Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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CODEPINK founder Medea Benjamin along with members of the activist group Code Pink demonstrate near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland. Protestors are staging demonstrations outside of the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday, July 18 and runs through July 21.
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A delegate becomes emotional while listening to the speech of Pat Smith, mother of Sean Smith, one of the four Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2012 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Protesters march during a "Dump Trump" demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Protestors are staging demonstrations outside of the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday July 18 and runs through July 21.
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Actor Scott Baio gives two thumbs up after addressing the delegates during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Anti-Donald Trump protesters climb over a barricade as they march through closed streets in Cleveland, near the Quicken Loans Arena site of the Republican National Convention July 18, 2016.
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Police stand around a group of conservative protesters on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in downtown Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The convention runs through July 21.
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A Code Pink protester is surrounded by media, security and a Bikers for Trump member trying to block her view during the evening session of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland on July 18, 2016.
The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
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Vice presidential running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence claps while listening to a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Members of the group Bikers for Trump watch during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Settlers Landing Park on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. The Republican National Convention that starts on Monday.
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People cheer as delegates gather on the floor during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Reince Priebus, Chair of the Republican National Committee, speaks at the podium on opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Workers prepare the stage before the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Sharon Day, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, speaks during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Tom Pauken, Republican Delegate of Texas, takes off his hat before the start of the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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A woman gives a high-five to a police officer outside the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
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West Virginia State Trooper Sgt. Dave Williams guards outside Quicken Loans Arena during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
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Karen Vaughn, whose son Aaron Vaughn, a Navy SEAL, was killed in a Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan, delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Marlana VanHoose performs the Star-Spangled Banner before the eveneing session of the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016.
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Television personality and CEO of Duck Commander, Willie Robertson speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Protesters gather during demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
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Protesters gather during demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
“It was pretty clear it wasn’t a fair and open process. And instead of trying to create some unity at the convention, all they did was create acrimony,” said Justin Everett, a state lawmaker and Colorado delegate. “Without having that transparency, itap going to be real difficult to sell that candidate that may or may not be valid come November. There’s going to be contentious questions there … because we didn’t get an up or down vote.”
A protracted state-by-state floor vote would have laid bare the opposition to Trump — which Republican leaders wanted to avoid in a week designed to bring the party together after a bruising presidential primary.
The Delegates Unbound organization considered the rules challenge their “last hope to stop Trump.” But later Unruh refused to retreat in defeat.
“This is not over,” said Unruh, a 51-year-old American government teacher from Castle Pines. “We are going to demonstrate the fact we know we’ve been railroaded. We need to make sure they are held accountable for what they are doing. I don’t care if it takes embarrassment.”
Earlier in the day, Colorado Republican Party Chairman Steve House held a private delegation breakfast meeting to discuss the rules challenge. House did not join the walkout, but he criticized the national party for how it handled the dissent.
“I think debate creates unity, not cutting off debate before itap complete,” he said in an interview on the red-carpeted convention floor. “Unity doesn’t happen because you stop someone from talking. It happens because you’ve come to some level of agreement about whatap best. I don’t think we are all the way there yet, either.”
Patrick Davis, the Trump campaign’s Colorado director and an alternate delegate, called the opening convention session “as raucous and as confrontational as Republicans ever get.”
“This was a family feud,” he said, “and I’m glad we had it on Monday and not on Thursday,” when the convention finishes.
Before the rules fight, the Colorado delegate-selection process had come under fire from the RNC rules committee. 34 of Colorado’s 37 delegates, capturing all elected in a series of caucuses in April. Trump as “rigged.” RNC officials dismissed a challenge to the seating of the delegates but issued a public reprimand.
“The manner in which the Colorado Republican Committee selected its national convention delegates at large and alternates was hardly a model of excellence in election administration,” said former RNC chairman Mike Duncan, who led the convention’s credentials committee. “The committee has serious concerns regarding the chosen convention balloting process.”
House dismissed the issue as minor, saying the party would make the process more transparent in the future.
Either way, the discord distracted from Republican focus on the need for a stronger national security — and stole the attention from Colorado’s , the party’s U.S. Senate candidate making his national debut.
The El Paso County commissioner introduced himself as “an unapologetic Christian, constitutional-conservative, pro-life, Second-Amendment-loving veteran.
The six-minute speech recycled familiar lines from Glenn’s other rousing speeches that propelled him in a field of more than a dozen candidates. But Glenn, a black Republican, turned sharp when he discussed recent police-involved shootings across the nation.
“Here’s some more facts, Mr. President,” Glenn said, “Neighborhoods have become more violent under your watch. Your rhetoric has a direct impact on the relationship between communities and the police.”
Glenn didn’t mention his opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, but he took aim at presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, saying she is “unfit to be president.”
His prime-time moment gave Glenn a chance to introduce himself to party activists and major GOP donors he will need to in Colorado, where many voters don’t know his name.
The most recent poll in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race gave Bennet a 15-point advantage. The NBC/Wall Street Journal survey conducted earlier this month put the Democrat at 53 percent and Glenn at 38 percent.
The speech is the first indication the GOP powerbrokers are eyeing the race after the National Republican Senatorial Committee gave him the cold shoulder — refusing even to applaud his primary win, let alone pump resources into the race.
“My name is Darryl Glenn. I can’t do this without your help,” he finished to a standing ovation.
Before the speech, Democrats continued to criticize Glenn as too extreme and linked him to Trump.
“I think what people need to understand about Darryl Glenn is he thinks Donald Trump ought to pick the next Supreme Court justice and that justice should be Ted Cruz,” said Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio in an interview. “And that should speak volumes to voters about who Darryl Glenn is and how he’s misaligned with the people of our state.”
Denver Post staff writer Joey Bunch contributed to this report.
