Friday 18 May - Saturday 19 May 2012: The Minnesota State Republican Convention officially convenes. The State Convention chooses the 13 at-large delegates (10 base at-large delegates plus 3 bonus delegates) to the Republican National Convention. There is no formal system of allocating these 13 at-large National Convention delegates to presidential contenders. These delegates will be allocated according to the vote of the Minnesota State Convention as a whole. In addition, 3 party leaders, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, and the chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, will attend the convention as unpledged delegates by virtue of their position. At-large delegates may be bound on the first ballot, unless released by the candidate, if directed by the state convention. No delegate to the Republican National Convention shall be bound by Party rules (unless bound by the State Convention pursuant to the State Party Constitution, Article 5, Section 3D) or by State law to cast his/her vote for a particular candidate on any ballot at the convention. [BYLAWS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA - ARTICLE VI]

No Delegate to the Republican National Convention shall be bound by party rules or by state law to cast his/her vote for a particular candidate on any ballot at the convention except that the state convention may bind the Delegates whom it elects to the National Convention of the Republican Party on the first ballot to vote for a candidate for the office of President of the United States, unless they be released by said candidate. [REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION. Section 5: C.] 19 May 2012 from NPR: Paul supporters score near sweep of national delegates ... "32 of the 40 delegates heading to Tampa are confirmed supporters of Ron Paul ... Paul supporters also picked up the 13 of the 13 alternate delegates to the RNC ..." 20 May 2012 from Star Tribune Paul power takes over state GOP convention: "... he [Paul] won 12 of 13 open delegate spots ... The 13th went to ... [Congressman CD 6] Michele Bachmann...." 21 May 2012 from ABC News: Minnesota just gave most of its delegates to Ron Paul: 12 of the 13 available at the convention, and 32 of the 40 overall. Notes: On 6 December 2010 the Minnesota Republican party has disciplined 18 party members for backing 2010 Independence Gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner. Those banned from party activities for 2 years (including the 2012 National Convention) include former Governor Arne Carlson, former Governor Arne Carlson Al Quie, and former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger. HF 986 and SF 696 were filed on 9 March 2011. Both would move the 2012 precinct caucuses from the 1st Tuesday in February to the 1st Tuesday in March.