The Republican National Convention is being held this week in Cleveland, Ohio. Washington's 41 delegates are bound to presumptive nominee Donald Trump because he won the primary, but the majority of those delegates actually back former candidate Ted Cruz. We’re going to hear from one of the state's youngest delegates, Jack Bell, throughout the week as part of our election series “From the Floor.”
Bell says his interest in politics isn't new, but turning 18 made all the difference.
"I made sure I was at the precinct caucuses. And mostly I was there to see the process. But the lady next to me ... she ended up being my precinct committee officer and elected me to be a delegate," he said.
Bell admits growing up in a Republican household definitely influenced his political ideology, but he also says when it comes to conservatism, he finds that those values tend to line up with his own.
"The conservative message is one that just resonates with me as far as economics, and then even from a social standpoint," he said.
Bell says he is a Ted Cruz delegate, and takes that responsibility seriously.
"That being said, Washington's going to be bound on the first ballot, and it's going to be over on the first ballot. Trump's going to win. My goal is not to have Ted Cruz magically be the nominee ... my goal is to further a youth movement," Bell said.
He says there's a misconception among millennials that the Republican Party is not inclusive, nor is it supportive. Bell says he hopes to show others in his generation that's not the case.
"I've been shown nothing but support throughout this process. I mean, I came in a complete outsider. I didn't know anybody. And they've just welcomed me with open arms," he said.
This is part of KPLU's ongoing election series "From the Floor," focused on the Washington delegation at each of the party's national conventions.
