On Tuesday, several states will hold the final Republican presidential primary contests of 2024, marking the first time Donald Trump’s name will appear on the ballot since his conviction on felony crimes.
The upcoming Republican contests in Montana, New Jersey, and New Mexico will feature the former president’s name on the ballot. Likewise, the presumptive Democratic nominee, President Joe Biden, will participate in primaries in these three states, as well as in Washington, D.C., and South Dakota.
In March, the Republicans in D.C. organized a primary run by the party. On the other hand, South Dakota opted out of conducting the GOP presidential primary as President Trump had no competition.
In those states, voters will have the opportunity to participate in primary races for federal, state, and local offices.
It is widely anticipated that both Trump and Biden will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections, given that they are the only remaining major candidates in the running.
As we approach November’s election, the outcomes could indicate the worries of voters regarding their options.
Should Trump’s victory margins fall short of expectations, it could indicate that voters are wary of selecting a presidential candidate with a criminal record.
As we head into the primaries, it’s worth noting that despite Donald Trump’s clear lead, there remains a small but dedicated group of Republican voters who are throwing their support behind former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Although she dropped out of the race in March, Haley’s recent announcement that she plans to vote for Trump in November has left some wondering if her followers will do the same. Tuesday’s contests could provide some insight into the loyalty of her base.
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Democratic voters have been expressing their disapproval of Biden’s handling of Israel’s conflict with Hamas through organized campaigns in recent contests. As a result, there are ongoing protests in several states to vote for “uncommitted” in the primaries. In New Jersey’s primary, “uncommitted” will be listed above the slogan “Justice For Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!” in many counties.
Tim Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL, has garnered support from both President Trump and other national Republican leaders as he enters a three-way race. The victor will go on to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Tester in an anticipated competitive race that could potentially sway control of the Senate.
After originally vying for a Senate seat and dropping out when Trump endorsed Sheehy, Rep. Matt Rosendale is retiring, and Republicans are now tasked with selecting his replacement.
In the state of New Jersey, the Democratic party will select a candidate to take the place of Senator Bob Menendez, who is currently facing federal corruption charges in New York. Despite opting out of the primary, Menendez submitted his paperwork on Monday to run as an independent candidate in the general election.
Many people view Rep. Andy Kim as the top contender for the Democratic nomination.
Four candidates are competing for the Republican nomination. These include Curtis Bashaw, who is a GOP fundraiser, Albert Harshaw, who is a Navy veteran, Justin Murphy, who is a former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor, and Christine Serrano Glassner, who is the Mendham Borough Mayor and has the backing of Donald Trump.
In the state’s 3rd District, which is expected to remain in the hands of the Democratic Party in November, five Democrats are vying for the primary, currently held by Kim.
Rob Menendez, who is the son of Menendez and also a first-term representative, is currently being challenged in a difficult primary in the 8th District of New Jersey by Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
The state of New Mexico, which is currently being held by Democrats in all three of its U.S. House seats, will only have one primary in the 1st District. The incumbent, Melanie Stansbury, will be challenged by Republicans Louie Sanchez and Steve Jones in a district that leans towards the Democrats and is centered in Albuquerque.
Washington D.C. residents will have the opportunity to vote in a primary election for the city’s nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House. Meanwhile, Iowa, which held the first-in-the-nation caucuses in January, will hold primary elections for local races and U.S. House seats. The outcome of one of these elections could potentially impact which party controls the House.
In 2022, a first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn barely defeated an incumbent Democrat, and now, Democrats in the Des Moines-area 3rd Congressional District will select a candidate to challenge him.