Donald Trump secures the nomination via delegate count

From laughable and pundit-labeled far cry bid to party frontrunner and presumptive nominee, Donald Trump crossed the 1,237 delegate threshold needed to be offered the GOP nomination. Trump however, cannot accept the nomination until it is offered to him at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 18-21. For those looking for a contested nomination process, crossing the threshold disrupts any cause for a contested convention. Headlines continue to voice discontent within the GOP about the Trump nomination, though efforts by party leaders call for unity behind Trump to keep Hillary Clinton out of office.

Federal Election Commision released Trump’s financial disclosure

Required of all candidates, the financial disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission gives the public a look into the candidate's’ estimated assets, income and debt since the beginning of 2015. The New York Times went through the document, which totaled 104 pages.Trump assets total at least $1.5 billion with hundreds of millions tied up in golf courses, hotels and real estate.

Trump's income totaled at least $615 million with $1.2 million coming from book royalties, $49 million “from the sale of the Miss Universe organization and other beauty pageant revenue” and $9 million coming from licensing of his name.

Trump’s liabilities total $315 million.

Paul Ryan still withholding support for Trump

Speaker of the House and Republican Representative from Wisconsin, Paul Ryan, long been the champion of the Republican platform, refused to back Donald Trump on May 5, during an interview with CNN. Though the two later met and spoke by phone on May 25, Ryan is still holding out on supporting the candidate. Ryan has raised concerns over Trump’s alignment with Republican policy. No endorsement timeframe or check list has been laid out by Ryan.

Trump catching up in polls

Long thought to be an easy win for Clinton, the predicted matchup with Trump in the November Election no longer shows a wide margin of victory. According to RealClearPolitics General Election Poll, Clinton currently holds a 1 percent lead over Trump 43.8 percent to 42.8 percent. In July of last year Clinton held a nearly 20 percent lead over and held an 11.4 percent lead in March.

Marco Rubio, former candidate for the Republican nomination, is now backing Donald Trump. Considered as the first to fight Trump publicly, Rubio mocked Trump’s hands calling them small — a euphemism for a region of Trump that was also lacking in size. Rubio now has apologized for the small hands joke and has since backed Trump, hoping to thwart another Obama term, which Republicans believe the country would receive with Clinton being elected. It seems to be a reluctant backing as Rubio acknowledged his differences with Trump and told CNN 

“Despite all my differences with Donald Trump, I have a better chance to get a conservative nominated Supreme Court with him than I ever will with Hillary Clinton,” he said.

DEMOCRATIC DISPATCH

Clinton found in the wrong by Inspector General

Clinton established a personal email system during her run for the presidency in 2008 and throughout her tenure in the U.S. Senate.

In an interview with the Office of Inspector General, former Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged that a private, personal email was used to conduct business while serving as secretary. Powell served secretary from Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2005. Powell has stated that he did not continue to possess the emails and he made no copies.

The document states that Clinton violated policies. Also, IG reported that Clinton’s timeliness in producing and turning over her emails was 21 months too late — Clinton turned over the emails 21 months after she was out of office.

“[S]he did not comply with the Department’s policies that were implemented in accordance with the Federal Records Act,” the report read.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) discussed Clinton’s email server in an interview with ABC’s “This Week”. 

"I don't believe she was trying to hide anything. I've known Hillary for three decades. Let me tell you what I do think: I think this is a woman who wants a little bit of a private life,” Feinstein said in the interview.

Clinton nears the nom

Clinton stands 70 delegates away from clinching the nomination with her 543 super delegates and 1,769 delegates, according to Real Clear Politics. Upcoming primaries in Puerto Rico and California could have Clinton clinch the nomination depending on Sanders’ turnout.

Sanders believes he can still win

With only 44 superdelegates and a delegate count just over 1,500 Senator Bernie Sanders has dropped off in the competition. Sanders campaign remains positive despite Clinton’s impending nomination. Sanders has been campaigning all week in California and stopped off to attend Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals with actor Danny Glover on May 30th. During his rally in Oakland, CA, earlier in the day, Sanders faced protests and an immense crowd, leading to a Secret Service intervention. California would be a huge boost in Sanders’ campaign, despite Clinton ahead in current polls.

Sanders campaign is now receiving call outs by Democratic lawmakers to back Clinton and go after Trump in his attacks. Politico reported that nearly a dozen lawmakers have suggested that Sanders needs to shift his focus to Trump, less about Clinton.

In addition, the lawmakers have discussed Sanders campaign and its end of the road status.

Projections of remaining voters

Key wins to the Clinton campaign will be the upcoming California primary among the remaining states. California’s 546 delegates including the 71 superdelegates up for grabs could put Clinton in a secure spot heading into the remaining states and convention, leaving Sanders behind.