Republicans to scrap primaries and caucuses as Trump challengers cry foul

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/06/republicans-cancel-primaries-trump-challengers-1483126

The moves, which critics called undemocratic, are the latest illustration of the president’s total takeover of the GOP apparatus.

Four states are poised to cancel their 2020 GOP presidential primaries and caucuses, a move that would cut off oxygen to Donald Trump’s long-shot primary challengers.

Republican parties in South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and Kansas are expected to finalize the cancellations in meetings this weekend, according to three GOP officials who are familiar with the plans.

The moves are the latest illustration of Trump’s takeover of the entire Republican Party apparatus. They underscore the extent to which his allies are determined to snuff out any potential nuisance en route to his renomination — or even to deny Republican critics a platform to embarrass him.