All eyes won’t be on Gov. Susana Martinez at a New York City gala where she is the guest of honor.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore cc
All three Republican candidates will be at the New York State Republican Gala that is set to honor Martinez. The gala also serves as a fundraiser for the state’s Republican party.
NM Political Report reported last week that Republican frontrunner Donald Trump would attend the April 14 gathering. The New York Republican primary takes place just five days later, on April 19.
Earlier this week, the New York State Republican Party announced that Ohio Gov. John Kasich would join Trump at the event.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore cc
“We’re thrilled to welcome Governor Kasich to our gala where he will be able to speak directly to rank-and-file Republicans who attend this event from across the state,” New York Republican State Committee chairman Chairman Ed Cox said in a statement. “This year’s event will be one for the history books.”
Then, early on Thursday, the party announced that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz would also be at the gala, declaring it a “trifecta.”
Cruz criticized Trump for having “New York values” in January which may hurt him in the New York primary, one of the most important remaining contests.
The party has not released a statement on Cruz’s inclusion at the gala, but did tweet about the news.
Hurry up & get your tickets because @tedcruz makes a trifecta for our annual gala! We are thrilled to welcome him to our event on 4/14. #goo
— New York GOP (@NewYorkGOP) March 31, 2016
Right now, Trump holds a large delegate lead and is the favorite to be the Republican nominee. Kasich already cannot receive a majority of delegates and Cruz would need an overwhelming majority of the remaining delegates to receive a majority.
Trump also currently leads by a large margin in all New York Republican Primary polls.
Gov. Susana Martinez during the 2016 Legislative Session. Photo Credit: Andy Lyman.
The other two Republican candidates are likely hoping that they would be able to prevail at a contested convention if Trump does not receive a majority of delegates.
The gala honoring Martinez shouldn’t be a surprise, given her increasing role as a national figure for Republicans, thanks in large part to her position as the chair of the Republican Governor’s Association.
Martinez endorsed Marco Rubio early in March. However, after losing his home state to Trump, the U.S. Senator from Florida dropped out of the race just weeks later.
Since then, Martinez said she would not immediately endorse a candidate.
In 2012, Martinez endorsed Mitt Romney after the New Mexico presidential primary, well after the former Massachusetts governor clinched the nomination.
Democrats have questioned Martinez if she would support Trump if he becomes nominee, especially after each of his frequent newsworthy and controversial comments.
Tickets for the fundraiser cost $1,000.
