New York, June 5: President Joe Biden won Democratic primaries Tuesday in New Jersey and Washington, DC, among some of the last contests on the 2024 primary calendar.
Biden’s wins came as a handful of states were holding presidential primary contests for both parties, marking the first time Donald Trump’s name appeared on the ballot since his historic conviction on felony crimes.
The former president was on the ballot in Republican contests in Montana, New Jersey and New Mexico. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, competed in the same states, plus the primary in Washington and one in South Dakota.
Republicans in DC held a party-run primary in March. South Dakota cancelled its GOP presidential primary because Trump was uncontested.
Voters were also casting ballots in primary races for federal, state and local offices in those states.
Trump and Biden are both expected to easily prevail in all of Tuesday’s contests as the last major candidates still running.
But the results could signal voter concerns about their choices as November’s election barrels closer.
If Trump’s margins of victory are closer than expected, it could be a sign that voters have hesitations about nominating a presidential candidate with a felony criminal record.
Trump’s domination in the primary has also been shadowed by ongoing support from a minority of GOP voters for former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who dropped out in March.
Biden has faced his own ongoing protest vote in recent contests as Democratic voters unhappy with his handling of Israel’s war with Hamas seek to register their disapproval.
There are organised campaigns in several states Tuesday to vote for “uncommitted” in the Democratic contests.
In New Jersey’s primary, “uncommitted” will be on the ballot in many counties above the phrase, “Justice For Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!”
After Tuesday, Democrats have two additional caucuses on June 8, for Guam and the US Virgin Islands, to close out their 2024 primary calendar. (AP)
