CINCINNATI (AP) – Ohio Gov. John Kasich won’t speak at the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump is set to become his party’s presidential nominee, but he will speak to the NAACP national convention that Trump is bypassing.
Emmalee Kalmbach, a Kasich spokeswoman, confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that Kasich will speak in Cincinnati on Sunday, the day before the RNC begins across the state in Cleveland.
Kasich has declined to endorse Trump and doesn’t plan to take part in GOP convention floor proceedings in his home state, where Kasich won the GOP primary and had hoped to challenge Trump in a contested convention before the businessman’s delegate lead became insurmountable.
Trump irritated NAACP leaders earlier this week by turning down their invitation, citing scheduling conflicts with the Republican convention. Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is scheduled to speak to the NAACP on Monday.
“The governor considers it a great privilege for Ohio to host the NAACP’s national convention, and he is honored to speak at their event,” Kalmbach said by email.