This year, the RNC has made it harder than ever for there to be unbound delegates, by forcing states to allocate and bind their delegates on the basis of any statewide vote. This removes two major sources of unbound delegates that existed in prior years: the 3 RNC members in most states, and delegates from caucus/convention states. However, there are four loopholes that allow unbound delegates:
States that never hold a statewide presidential preference vote (Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands).
States that directly elect delegates on the ballot. (Pennsylvania)
States that allow for Uncommitted delegates to be elected on the basis of the statewide vote due to high thresholds (Louisiana, Oklahoma)
Delegates initially allocated to candidates who later suspend their campaigns, withdraw their candidacy, or release their delegates.
Note that some states in the first two categories allow for delegates to pledge themselves to a particular candidate; such pledges are considered binding. This is relevant in Wyoming, Colorado, Illinois, and West Virginia.
There are currently 148 unbound delegates (6% of the total). Their endorsements break down as:
They break down by state as follows:
The 5 Rubio delegates will be chosen on April 30.
Stephanie Berault [Rubio]
Robert Williamson [Rubio]
Leslie Tassin Sr. [Rubio]
The 17 Rubio delegates will be chosen by May 20.
Judd Gregg [Bush] - Kasich
Jennifer Horn [Bush; RNC]
Gordon J. MacDonald [Rubio]
Jack Dalrymple (Governor)
Wayne Stenehjem (Attorney General) - staying neutral
Jim Poolman Cruz (perhaps only leaning)
Dick Dever - on Cruz slate (unwillingly), prefers Kasich but undecided.
Betsy Dalrymple (First Lady)
Gary Emineth - leans Trump
Daniel Traynor Cruz (prefers Kasich but supporting Cruz)
Kelly Schmidt (State Treasurer) - leans Cruz
The Cruz supporters listed above were elected from a slate distributed by the Cruz campaign; some (like Dick Dever) may actually be Kasich supporters, so we’ll be keeping an eye on them.
The 12 Rubio and 3 Uncommitted delegates will be chosen by May 14.
54 unbound delegates will be directly elected in the April 26 primary.
Lilliana Belardo de O'Neal
* These delegates are subject to a court challenge, and could be replaced with 2 Uncommitted and 1 Rubio delegate.
Tammy Hooper [Rubio] - Cruz
Other unbound delegates may result if candidates release their delegates, or if additional uncommitted delegates are elected (only truly likely in Wyoming and Colorado). It is also unclear if the 31 directly elected delegates in West Virginia are bound to the candidate they are listed under in the May 10 primary.