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Trump to hold 2 campaign rallies in Washington Saturday
Trump to hold 2 campaign rallies in Washington Saturday
SEATTLE (AP) — Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's Washington state campaign team says he will visit the state Saturday for two public rallies before the state's primary election May 24.
Trump will hold rallies in Spokane and Lynden, a small town about 100 miles north of Seattle.
The first rally will take place at noon Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center with doors opening to the public at 9 a.m.
The second rally will take place in Lynden, about 100 miles north of Seattle, at 3 p.m. at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, which can hold up to 5,000 people, the Northwest Washington Fair & Event Center said on its Facebook page Thursday night.
Republicans will use the results of the primary election to allocate the state's 44 delegates, but with no other candidates, Trump is the party's presumptive presidential nominee.
As Trump’s people firmed up their plans, local Republicans are divided as to whether to support the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
“I take no joy in not supporting the presumptive Republican nominee, but I must place conscience and principle ahead of party,” said Chris Vance, former state GOP chairman who is running for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Patty Murray.
Vance said on Thursday he would not back Trump, but King County GOP Chairwoman Lori Sotelo is calling for unity and issued a statement in support of Trump:
"The KCGOP would like to recognize all of the Republican presidential candidates and the sacrifices they and their families made during their race to be our presidential nominee. After a long series of caucuses, conventions, and primaries, the voice of the people has been heard, and our Republican Party nominee for President will be Donald Trump.
"Looking forward, our party must be unified in defeating the extreme liberal agenda of the Democrats. Now is the time for our party to coalesce behind our nominee to elect a Republican president who will defeat the Clinton machine and uphold our Republican values."
In other states Trump rally’s have brought protests and sometimes violence. During a recent visit to San Francisco, Trump’s motorcade was forced to stop on the freeway and Trump had to be ushered in through a side door to avoid protesters blocking the entrance to the hotel where his rally was held.
Trump’s campaign managers don’t want a repeat in Western Washington, but local protesters are already gearing up.
“I think if I was his political coordinator, I wouldn’t really recommend him coming to the Seattle-King County area because I think our political climate right now would not be a good response to him being here,” said Yasmin Christopher, with One America Votes.
Before coming to Washington, Trump is scheduled to make a stop in Eugene, Oregon, for an event on Friday evening.