Primary Elections in Four States: Biden and Trump Expected to Win
Nathan Layne reports on the upcoming primary elections
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to easily win primaries in four states on Tuesday. This includes the battleground state of Wisconsin, after clearing the field of challengers and securing their parties’ nominations.
Protest Votes and Margins of Victory
Both candidates face protest votes, with observers closely monitoring their margins of victory for signs of weakness before the general election in November. Some Democratic voters in opposition to Biden’s support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza have opted for “uncommitted” on their ballots as a form of protest. On the other hand, Trump will be watched to see how many votes he loses to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, his last remaining challenger.
States Holding Primaries
In addition to Wisconsin, voters in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island will participate in the primaries. Delaware canceled its primary after Haley withdrew, leaving Trump as the Republican candidate.
Connecticut Primary
Connecticut, a Democratic stronghold, will see some Democrats voting “uncommitted” to protest Biden’s stance on Israel and Gaza. Republicans not supporting Trump also have the option to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots.
New York Primary
In New York, activists are promoting a “Leave it Blank” initiative for Democrats dissatisfied with Biden. The state does not count blank ballots in its unofficial results. Biden won New York by a large margin in 2020.
Rhode Island Primary
Rhode Island voters will have the choice to vote “uncommitted” on both ballots. Biden won the state comfortably in the previous election.
Wisconsin Primary
Organizers in Wisconsin are advocating for a protest vote against Biden by selecting “uninstructed.” The state has an open primary system, allowing voters to participate in either party’s primary.
Two referendum questions will also be on the ballot in Wisconsin:
- Amending the state constitution to restrict election-related tasks to election officials only.
- Prohibiting the use of private funds in elections.
