President Joe Biden nudged further ahead in the Democratic nomination for reelection by winning the party caucuses in Wyoming and was the only choice on the ballot later Saturday in Alaska. As two of the least populated states, Alaska and Wyoming play minuscule roles in both intraparty and general election voting in presidential election years.
Quick Read
- Wyoming and Alaska Caucuses: President Joe Biden has advanced further in securing the Democratic nomination for reelection with wins in Wyoming and an unopposed ballot in Alaska.
- Role of States: Both states, being less populated, have a minor role in national and intraparty elections. Biden’s recent victories have solidified his standing ahead of the general election.
- Democratic Nomination Status: Following a victory in the Georgia primary on March 12, Biden has effectively clinched the Democratic nomination and is poised to face Donald Trump, the presumed Republican nominee, in November.
- Alaska’s Voting Process: Alaska Democrats conducted a voice vote at both in-person and virtual meetings, with Biden as the sole candidate after Dean Phillips suspended his campaign.
- Delegate Allocation: Alaska will allocate 15 pledged delegates based on this vote. In Wyoming, the caucuses determined the assignment of the state’s 17 national delegates.
- Upcoming Events: Winners of the Wyoming caucuses will also attend the state Democratic convention on June 1 in Casper, where 13 of Wyoming’s national convention delegates will be officially selected.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden wins Wyoming’s caucuses. Democrats in Alaska still to get their say
Newslooks- JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) —
President Joe Biden nudged further ahead in the Democratic nomination for reelection by winning the party caucuses in Wyoming and was the only choice on the ballot later Saturday in Alaska.
As two of the least populated states, Alaska and Wyoming play minuscule roles in both intraparty and general election voting in presidential election years.
Biden effectively clinched the Democratic nomination on March 12 with the Georgia primary and is now all but certain to face former President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee in November.
ALASKA
Alaska Democrats are holding a voice vote for their party-run preference poll at in-person and virtual district meetings.
Biden’s is the lone candidate eligible to receive votes after the other Democrat to qualify, Dean Phillips, suspended his campaign last month. The vote is being held during meetings where other party business is conducted.
The polling was delayed a week. Democrats had planned a ranked vote election by mail on April 6 but those plans changed when only Biden and Phillips qualified for the ballot and when Phillips suspended his run.
Changes to their plan were approved by the Democratic National Committee.
There were no provisions for write-ins or uncommitted, said Lindsay Kavanaugh, the Alaska party’s executive director.
“There is no option to vote nay,” she said. “You can abstain. You don’t vote yes or no, you vote for a candidate.”
The party proceeded with a vote, even with just one candidate, “to make sure we’re as inclusive as possible,” she said, and to avoid any inference that party leaders were deciding candidates themselves.
Alaska will allocate 15 pledged delegates based on the vote.
WYOMING
The caucuses also decided who goes to the state Democratic convention on June 1 in Casper. There, 13 of Wyoming’s national convention delegates will be chosen.
Wyoming’s other four “automatic” national delegates are the state party chairman, vice chair and two national committee people, who have not yet pledged for Biden or anyone else.
