Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2012 --- 5:50p.m.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Political newcomer Eric Hovde has gotten the fewest votes from Republican delegates in the first round of endorsement voting at the state Republican Party convention.

Hovde now drops out as another round of voting commences at the Saturday meeting.

A candidate must get 60 percent of the votes in order to get the party endorsement.

Hovde got just 16.3 percent of the vote.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann had the highest percentage of the vote at 42 percent. State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald was a distant second with 20.9 percent while former Gov. Tommy Thompson had 20.8 percent.

Hovde spokesman Sean Lansing says the vote is not indicative of how the candidates will perform in the August primary.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.