Why the Republicans can't ditch Trump - even if they wanted to: It's too late to get his name off the ballot

  • Even in the billionaire were willing to withdraw from the race - he says that will 'never' happen - Republicans would be hard-pressed to replace him
  • Absentee ballots have been sent. Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, South Dakota and a hand full of other states have begun the early voting process
  • Votes for the Republican presidential ticket could go to a replacement candidate such as Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Trump's running mate
  • It would take some complicated legal maneuvering, experts say

Republicans are saddled with Donald Trump as their nominee whether they like it or not, election experts say.

Even in the billionaire were willing to withdraw from the race - he says that will 'never' happen - Republicans would be hard-pressed to replace him on state ballots with someone else this close to Election Day.

Absentee ballots have been sent. Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, South Dakota, Minnesota, New Jersey and a hand full of other states have begun the early voting process.

Republicans are saddled with Donald Trump as their nominee whether they like it or not, election experts say

Republicans are saddled with Donald Trump as their nominee whether they like it or not, election experts say

Votes for the Republican presidential ticket could go to a replacement candidate such as Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, but not without some complicated legal maneuvering. 

'It is an exercise of lawyers’ fantasies to imagine the litigation that would take place,' Republican election lawyer Ben Ginsberg, a partner at Jones Day, told the New York Times. 'You would have to amass an army of lawyers and send them to each state.' 

Republican 'electors' who make up the Electoral College could choose to direct their votes to someone other than Trump, regardless of whether he stays on the ticket.

'I suspect there are a few Republican electors who expect to be elected and who are planning to vote for someone other than Trump,' Ballot Access News Editor Richard Winger, told the Times.

Winger said, 'I think both Evan McMullin and Gary Johnson are trying to persuade various likely Republican electors to vote against Trump in the Electoral College in December.'

Congress could vote to block the votes of those electors. Republicans run both chambers and would be able to run interference if the party united in an effort to dump Trump.

That's all assuming that Trump would be open to dropping out.  

'I’d never withdraw. I’ve never withdrawn in my life,' he told The Washington Post in a Saturday call as he did damage control following the publication's release of crude comments the billionaire made about women. 'No, I’m not quitting this race. I have tremendous support.'

Scores of Republican governors and lawmakers have yanked their support for Trump since the 2005 tape was published.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, a GOP leader in the Senate, said Trump should end his bid for the White House. West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Caputo said he may want to 'reexamine his candidacy.' Trump's primary nemesis Carly Fiorina said the businessman should 'step aside.'

House Speaker Paul Ryan said this morning that he's halting all fundraising for Trump and will not campaign with him. 

A student wears a Donald Trump mask at Washington University, site of the second presidential debate, on Sunday. Trump says he won't drop out despite the lewd comments on a tape from 2005 that were released

A student wears a Donald Trump mask at Washington University, site of the second presidential debate, on Sunday. Trump says he won't drop out despite the lewd comments on a tape from 2005 that were released

The Republican National Committee is 'authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for president of the United States.'

Making the case that Trump should be forcibly removed from the ballot under the loose definition of the term 'otherwise' would be a nearly impossible task now that the nominating convention has passed, Ginsberg says.

'The rules don't provide a ready-made escape. Nor do ballot rules, nor the electoral college. While people are looking for an out, this die was cast in Cleveland,' the GOP lawyer who has represented the RNC, in addition to former nominees and candidates, told NPR. 

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP OR CALLED ON HIM TO DROP OUT?

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk

Utah Senator Mike Lee

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan   

Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake

New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett 

Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby 

Nevada Representative Joe Heck

South Dakota Senator John Thune 

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte 

Utah Governor Gary Hebert 

Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz 

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo  

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard

Texas Congressman Will Hurd 

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval 

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham 

Maine Senator Susan Collins

Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenbury

California Congressman David Valadao 

Arizona Senator John McCain 

Utah Governor Gary Hebert 

Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner

Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina 

Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer

Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski

Utah Congresswoman Mia Love

Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent

Michigan Congressman Fred Upton 

Colorado Senator Cory Gardner

Colorado Senate nominee Darryl Glenn 

Florida Congressman Tom Rooney 

New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo 

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman 

Utah Congressman Chris Stewart

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley 

Michigan Congressman Justin Amash 


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