BRUNSWICK

Generally, the Republican National Convention is a chance for party activists to let go of the bitterness of the primary season and get energized for the general election campaign.

Not so for some Maine delegates attending in Cleveland.

“The Maine delegation had a very heavy concentration of (U.S. Sen. Ted) Cruz supporters,” said Eric Lusk, a Harpswell resident and chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Committee. “There’s a considerable amount of disappointment that Cruz won’t be the nominee.”

That disappointment was only exacerbated on Monday when an attempt to change convention rules was defeated by GOP officials. Maine joined several states in petitioning for a formal roll-call vote on the rule changes, but intense negotiations from Donald Trump’s staff were able to convince enough Maine delegates to withdraw from the petition process, and the issue was dropped.

Lusk, who never signed on to the petition, said it didn’t make sense to him to make a nomination from the floor for Cruz because Trump clearly had enough delegates to secure the nomination.

But for state Sen. Eric Brakey of Auburn, the rules change was never about depriving Trump of the nomination. Instead, it was about checking the power of the Republican National Committee and ensuring a fair process. Brakey noted that he was disappointed by how the RNC had strong-armed the rules debate.

Still, both delegates felt it was time to move on to the general election.

“Everyone here is united in the idea that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be commander in chief,” said Brakey.

Lusk was quick to note that while the convention was not as charged as it was in 2008, the last Republican National Convention he attended, they “still had some electric speakers.”

For Lusk, the most exciting part of the convention was the party’s increasing diversity.

“The Republican Party is rapidly becoming a more culturally diverse party,” said Lusk. “It’s a much more diverse room in 2016 than in 2008.”

Brakey was also energized with the progress the party was making. As part of the platform committee, Brakey was able to get some planks into the party’s platform, including a right-to-try plank that mirrors legislation he sponsored in the Maine Senate this year.

While both delegates are disappointed with aspects of the convention, they remain hopeful for the party’s future.

nstrout@timesrecord.com