No, but in open primaries they will help select the GOP delegates.
Some states don’t even have public votes..Delagates in the ones that do are not necessarily required to support the voting results. Some do have rules, but rules are subject to change.
The primary is not the same in every state, does not necessarily have any legal or constitutional mandates...it’s more or less just a prelim to the main event.
In the past we have had floor fights that have lasted quite a while.
I don’t know what is going to happen. I suspect that the GOP will try to push their candidate to the podium regardless of any votes in the individual states.
Like I said, they have to either acquiesce or concur as a group for a nominee from anywhere to be given the mantle and his/her electors.
In the general, you then vote for the Electors, and not the person.
There has not been one of these outsider candidates that made it to the convention in quit some time. Perot never made it but he came close.
Frankly, at this time during the last open primary with no incumbent, Rudy Giuliani was going to be the next POTUS.
We have a way to go yet..