2016, the primaries required proportional representation until mid-march when states could choose to allocate all their delegates to the outright winner (seven states did so) or to anyone who scored over 50 percent of the state and congressional districts.

Republican

The "Grand Old Party" or GOP, as the Republican Party is sometimes called, worked at revising its primary process in 2016.  It shortened the primary season a bit, with the first primary held Feb. 1 in Iowa.  (In 2012 the Iowa primary had been held already in early January.)  The main reason for stipulating delegate representation remain proportional until mid-March was because the number of  delegates available in primaries held before then was heavier.  By requiring states to hold off on awarding all delegates to a winning candidate till later in March, it would allow viable competitors to stay in the race longer.