Both parties have similar contingency plans to cover situations like this.
Thank you for the response, Publius. I just downloaded the RNC rules. i get a kick out of this part of the preamble:
“It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage and allow the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open and accessible to all Americans.”
Right. Unless we decide to disenfranchise a few million voters for one or two candidates.
Anyway, I read the entire rules from 2012, and can’t find any mention of what happens if they stalemate and can’t resolve it by the end of the convention. I did note, however, that the rules are loaded with loopholes for mischief. Like the one calling for forfeiture of 1/2 of a state’s delegates if the state is found to have violated any of the rules. A devious state party apparatus might find it advantageous to do that on purpose, in certain hypothetical situations a clever lawyer’s mind could imagine.
Anyway, here’s the link for anyone that wants to read the 2012 rules, which are in effect as of this moment.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-static-ngop-pbl/docs/Rules_of_the_Republican+Party_FINAL_S14090314.pdf