Oregon's May primary could have impact on GOP nomination

Medford, Ore. — Despite Oregon’s late primary republicans could play a big role in the nomination for the GOP’s next presidential candidate.

Donald Trump is leading in the polls, but it doesn’t look like he’ll have enough delegates to lock in the nomination before the May 17th primary.

“Our primary’s always so late that normally now or by the end of April it’s already decided,” chairman of Jackson County Republican Party Ken Fawcett said.

Fawcett said the last time the republican primary held this kind of weight was in 1976 when Ronald Regan and Gerald Ford campaigned for the state’s delegates. Which means Oregonians may not have to go far to see the candidates in person.

“If it were Trump he’s probably not going to come here to the fairgrounds,” Fawcett said. “He’s probably going to go to Salem or Portland for a big rally.”

Fawcett said there are still more than 500 delegates to be determined between now and Oregon’s primary, but local republicans say they’re excited about the possibility to vote in a relevant contest.

Since the state’s Motor Voter Act went into effect on January 1st the Jackson County Clerk said there are nearly 1,000 newly registered voters including 46 republicans, 51 democrats, and 850 non-affiliated.