Buchanan county republican caucus selects presidential candidate

By Jazmine Knight

With emotions running high in the Buchanan County Courthouse, registered republicans voters were finally able to cast their vote for a presidential candidate. 

There were three candidates to choose from, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and David Stuckenburg. 

Kristi Green, vice chair of the Buchanan county republican central committee, says she loves seeing the participation from everyone at the caucus. 

“That’s democracy in action. Everybody has different ideals. Everybody has different candidates they support within the Republican Party,” Green said. 

“One of the great things about being a Republican is that we are free thinkers and they were able to express what they felt about their candidate and to vote for their candidate at this caucus.”

One man had the courage to speak against the majority in support of candidate Nikki Haley.

Ben Haley, attendee, stepped up to become a delegate for Nikki Haley. He then had 30 minutes to collect as many signatures from voters as possible. Those who signed then had to agree to attend the next two caucuses in Chillicothe and Springfield as delegates and alternates. 

“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming in here. I knew it was kind of a long shot for my candidate, Nikki Haley… but the main thing is I wanted to make my voice be heard,” said Ben Haley. 

Haley, though nervous, stood up for his candidate.

“I believe she has a great experience…She also was an ambassador to the UN.  I believe in a lot of her ideas, I feel that she was going to be the best candidate to be able to represent the Republican Party and then also more so to be the next president,” Haley said. 

Haley, unsatisfied with the actions and demeanor of candidate Donald Trump, believes if Trump becomes ineligible to run for presidency then we’ll see many voters shift to support NIkki Haley. 

“I believe the majority of them would because, I mean, they have very similar ideas, but it’s a very different character, a very different outlook,” he said. 

Green encourages everyone to go out and vote when the time comes. For those who are a little more dedicated, she suggests attending a caucus in the future. 

“I feel that everybody should vote all the time. It’s super easy to vote on Election Day and just go in and fill out your paper ballot,” she said.

“You have to be passionate and serious and dedicated. And I really admire all the people that came out to caucus today.”

The selected candidate must finish with 50% plus one of the votes. Once selected, 12 delegates and 12 alternates of the winning candidate will attend the six congressional district caucus. 

Trump won the caucus with 115 votes. Nikki Haley finished with 10 votes. Stuckenburg had 1 vote.