The Republican Party's "Rule 40" and state-level "sore loser laws" are examined as potential hurdles for candidates in a contested convention. Rule 40, implemented in 2012 to block Ron Paul, requires a candidate to win a majority of delegates in at least eight states to be nominated. Sore loser laws in 46 states prevent candidates who lose a primary from appearing on the general election ballot as an independent, complicating any potential third-party runs.
