National Republican leaders overcame a last-ditch effort Monday by delegates in Minnesota and other states to force a vote on the convention rules, effectively squelching the last gasp of anti-Trump dissent among GOP delegates gathered in Cleveland this week.
Minnesota was among the states whose delegates urged a roll-call vote on a motion to adopt convention rules. After it became clear that some state delegations also wanted a recorded vote, confusion reigned as GOP leaders engaged in some last-minute arm twisting to get delegates to withdraw their support.
"I was asked to withdraw my name, and I said 'no,'" said Marty Seifert, a delegate and former Minnesota House legislator. "I'm for transparency and openness and accountability. When I was minority leader, I probably asked for a thousand roll call votes because i believed in accountability, transparency."
Minnesota's delegation eventually withdrew its support for the motion, according to a source.
The eventual adoption of the convention rules angered some GOP delegates, including one from Minnesota who declined to be named but said angrily, "I have no reason to be here."
Seifert, a longtime GOP leader, said he understand the frustration of some grassroots activists who distrust the political establishment. "It's probably not helpful for a lot of the people that come in with a little bit of distrust already," Seifert said.
