Local Republicans, voters react to likely Trump nomination

With Ted Cruz and John Kasich formally suspending their campaigns, what does a likely Donald Trump nomination mean for the Republican party in the Borderland?

With so much speculation about a contested GOP convention, the quick succession of dropouts came as a surprise to many, including leaders in the local GOP.

“I was shocked that (Cruz) had made the decision so quickly,” said Bob Pena, executive director for the Republican party in El Paso. “The polls had barely closed. I don’t know what effect it’s having at the present time on our delegation in El Paso.”

Pena said the local party is still trying to figure out what will happen at the convention in Cleveland in July. He’s one of several hoping to spend his own money to go as a delegate.

But around El Paso, what would it take to now get the party behind the presumptive nominee? Adolpho Telles, chairman of the local Republican party said it may be difficult, but they will support him.

“El Paso is going to be hard, particularly,” Telles said. “Not just El Paso, I think throughout the United States, there are a number of people that are what I call single-issue voters. And he’s done damage in a lot of different areas over this election cycle. And I think he has got to fix that so we can sell it.”

Local Republican notables were also reacting Wednesday. In a statement, Republican former State Rep. Dee Margo told ABC-7:

“I’m probably in the same quandary as everyone else. I question how much rhetoric is campaign driven and how to discern actual policy positions on issues? I’d like to see mature adult behavior and language reflective of a leader of competence and character. I’d also like to vote FOR a candidate, not AGAINST the other person. I would hope the Republican Party will have some influence in shaping and positioning our nominee to appeal to El Paso, Hispanics and the Border.”

Congressman Steve Pearce, R – New Mexico sent ABC-7 this statement:

“I firmly believe in the power of the people to make the choice as to who will be the GOP nominee and I will respect that. As elected officials, we must remember that we don’t know more than the voters and we should let the people choose. I believe more in the tenacity of the American people.”

So what are potential voters in the El Paso area thinking? Some ABC-7 talked with Wednesday were still learning about it.

“No, I did not hear about that,” said Leena Alvarez, a University of Texas El Paso student.

Surprising to some and accepted already by others, people around El Paso and on the UTEP campus were dealing with the new political reality.

“Trump is the best nominee,” said one student. “Because I feel like Clinton’s going to beat Bernie Sanders, and we can’t have Hillary.”

“Well, I know who I’m going to vote for,” said another student. “And it’s not Trump.”

UTEP’s College Republicans are aware of the complicated situation, and spokewoman Italia Solis said they’re ready to pull for the presumptive nominee.

“We believe that he is a businessman and he won’t react people believe he’s going to react to his nomination,” Solis said.

But with that support comes recognition of some challenges.

“I think it will have a massive effect,” said Jason Vickers, a member of the College Republicans. “I think that the candidates we have now, people aren’t necessarily happy with. So I think that with Ted Cruz and Kasich, I think it’ll have a massive effect on voter turnout, and probably drop voter turnout in the states.”

That’s a challenge the Republican party in El Paso is now preparing to tackle.

“There is no candidate that has run that I agree with 100 percent what they do,” Telles said. “So it’s a matter of deciding who’s the best candidate. And he without a doubt is the best candidate.”

But if El Pasoans will buy it remains to be seen.

“We’re definitely behind him,” Solis said

“Trump is like going to be doing all these ridiculous things if he becomes president,” said Ana Alvarez, a UTEP student.

In the local primary race, Trump came in third behind Cruz and Marco Rubio. El Paso’s national convention delegation will first have to vote for them.

Even then, there are still some possibilities in this race that no one has been able to predict.