Voters in four states will weigh in Tuesday on their parties’ presidential nominees, a largely symbolic vote now that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have locked up the Democratic and Republican nominations. Biden and Trump are both expected to easily win primaries in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin and add to their delegate hauls for their party conventions this summer. The decisions will nevertheless offer clues about enthusiasm among base voters for the upcoming 2020 rematch that has left a majority of Americans underwhelmed.
Quick Read
- Primaries in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin will see voters choosing their party’s presidential nominees, with Biden and Trump expected to win easily.
- The primaries are largely symbolic, as Biden and Trump have already secured their nominations, but voter turnout will offer insights into base enthusiasm for the 2024 rematch.
- Wisconsin’s results will be particularly scrutinized for indications of Republican support for Trump and Democratic support for Biden.
- Wisconsin also has two Republican-backed ballot measures that could impact future election rules and funding.
- Mississippi has a Republican runoff to determine who will challenge Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in a strongly Democratic district.
- Following Nikki Haley’s withdrawal from the GOP race, the focus has shifted to the general election, with Biden and Trump ramping up campaign activities and fundraising efforts.
- Biden recently raised $26 million at a New York fundraiser, while Trump aims to raise $33 million at an upcoming event in Palm Beach, Florida.
The Associated Press has the story:
Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island & Wisconsin get their say in presidential primaries
Newslooks- (AP)
Voters in four states will weigh in Tuesday on their parties’ presidential nominees, a largely symbolic vote now that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have locked up the Democratic and Republican nominations.
Biden and Trump are both expected to easily win primaries in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin and add to their delegate hauls for their party conventions this summer. The decisions will nevertheless offer clues about enthusiasm among base voters for the upcoming 2020 rematch that has left a majority of Americans underwhelmed.
In particular, the tallies in Wisconsin, a pivotal November battleground, will give hints about the share of Republicans who still aren’t on board with Trump and how many Democrats are disillusioned with Biden. Trump was scheduled to campaign Tuesday in Wisconsin and Michigan, two Midwest battlegrounds.
All four states have multiple candidates on the ballot, and three of them also have an option to vote for “uncommitted” or “uninstructed delegate.” Biden has faced opposition from activists encouraging Democrats to vote against Biden to send a message of disapproval for his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Wisconsin voters will also decide the fate of two Republican-backed statewide ballot measures that will shape how elections in the state are run and funded. Mississippi voters will decide a runoff between two Republicans vying to take on longtime Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, who is favored to hold on to the strongly Democratic seat in November.
Trump and Biden turned their attention to the general election weeks ago after Nikki Haley dropped out of the GOP contest. Biden visited all the top battlegrounds last month after his State of the Union speech.
Biden and the Democratic National Committee have outpaced Trump and the Republicans in fundraising. Biden claimed the largest single-event fundraising record last week when he took in $26 million at a star-studded New York event last week with big names from the entertainment world teamed up with the president and his Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Trump is looking to one-up his rival with a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend that he hopes will bring in $33 million.
