Former President Donald Trump will head to Anaheim in late September as part of the California Republican Party’s fall convention.
Trump is scheduled to address convention attendees during a lunch on Friday, Sept. 29, the state party announced Tuesday.
“We are thrilled to welcome President Trump back to the CAGOP convention stage for the first time since our 2016 convention,” CAGOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement. “As California Republicans prepare to play a major role in deciding who our party’s 2024 presidential nominee will be, I look forward to President Trump speaking with our delegates about his plans to move our country forward.”
Just hours after the announcement, Trump was indicted by the Justice Department for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Other than Trump, no other guests for the California GOP’s fall convention have been publicly disclosed, but the party said more speakers would be announced “in the days and weeks to come.”
The fall convention is slated to take place at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1.
While Trump’s visit is part of the California GOP’s fall meeting, Republican presidential hopefuls have eyed Southern California, particularly Orange County, early this 2024 cycle — not only because of the bevy of California delegates potentially up for grabs but also because of the plethora of fundraising opportunities in the area.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott held a reception and town hall in Newport Beach Monday evening, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis headlined a Republican Party of Orange County event in March after visiting the Reagan Library. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley also visited Orange County for fundraising in June.
The announcement of Trump’s visit comes just days after the California GOP voted to change how its 169 delegates will be awarded during the March 5 presidential primary.
Now, if a candidate can secure a majority of votes in the primary election (50% plus one), he or she will nab all 169 delegates, the most of any state. But if no contender can secure a majority, the delegates will be distributed proportionally.
The California GOP said its bylaws governing the primary process before the change were not in compliance with Republican National Committee rules, and without a change, the state could have lost half of its delegates.
“With this rules change that no puts us in compliance with RNC rules, Republican presidential candidates will not only be encouraged to spend real time campaigning in our state and making their case to voters but Republican voters will equally be encouraged to turn out to support their chosen candidate to help them win delegates,” said Patterson.
But the changes are largely seen as a potential boost for Trump’s quest to return to the White House.
A June survey of likely California Republican voters found 50% said they would vote for Trump for president — that’s ahead of 24% who picked DeSantis, 6% for former Vice President Mike Pence and 5% for Scott.
“We are pleased the California Republican Party readopted a Winner-Take-All provision, and we look forward to competing across California to win all of its delegates, just as President Trump did in 2016 and 2020,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Associated Press.
