On Tuesday, a few states will hold the final Republican presidential primary contests of 2024, marking the first time Donald Trump’s name will be on the ballot since his conviction on felony charges.
In the upcoming Republican contests in Montana, New Jersey, and New Mexico, the former president’s name will be on the ballot. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee, will participate in the primaries held in the same states, alongside the primary in Washington, D.C. and South Dakota.
In March, the Republicans in D.C. organized a primary that was run by the party. Meanwhile, South Dakota decided to cancel its GOP presidential primary since Donald Trump was the only candidate, making him uncontested.
In those states, voters will have the opportunity to participate in primary races for various federal, state, and local offices.
It is widely anticipated that Trump and Biden will effortlessly emerge victorious in the upcoming elections, being the only major candidates who are still in the running.
As we approach the November election, the outcomes of the recent polls may indicate that voters have some reservations about the candidates available to them.
Voters may have reservations about nominating a presidential candidate with a felony criminal record if Trump’s margins of victory are narrower than anticipated.
As we head towards the primaries, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley’s earlier support has been looming over Trump’s domination. Despite dropping out in March, a minority of GOP voters have continued to support her. Recently, Haley announced that she would vote for Trump in November. The upcoming Tuesday contests could reveal whether her supporters will follow suit.
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Democratic voters who are dissatisfied with Biden’s handling of Israel’s conflict with Hamas have been expressing their disapproval through organized campaigns in various states. These campaigns have resulted in a protest vote for “uncommitted” in recent contests. In New Jersey’s primary, “uncommitted” will be listed on the ballot in many counties, along with the message “Justice for Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!” Biden has been facing intense criticism from voters, and this ongoing protest vote is a clear indication of the public’s dissatisfaction.
Tuesday’s primary elections are not just about the presidential contests. They also include federal and local races across the states. A key race to watch is the Republican Senate contest in Montana.
The Republican party is set to select a candidate to take the place of retiring Rep. Matt Rosendale. Rosendale had initially planned to contest in the Senate race but withdrew his candidacy after Sheehy gained Trump’s endorsement.
The state of New Jersey is currently in the process of selecting a Democratic candidate to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Bob Menendez, who is currently facing corruption charges in federal court in New York. Sen. Menendez has opted out of running in the primary, but has filed the necessary paperwork to run as an independent candidate in the general election.
The Democratic nomination is expected to go to Rep. Andy Kim, who is seen as the leading candidate.
Four candidates are competing for the Republican nomination. They include Curtis Bashaw, a GOP fundraiser, Albert Harshaw, a Navy veteran, Justin Murphy, former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor, and Christine Serrano Glassner, Mendham Borough Mayor, who has the support of Trump.
There are currently five Democrats vying for the primary election in the 3rd District of the state. This district is currently held by Kim and is predicted to remain under Democratic control in the upcoming November election.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is presenting a formidable challenge to first-term Rep. Rob Menendez, son of Menendez, in the primary race of New Jersey’s 8th District.
In New Mexico’s 1st District, currently held by Democrats, only one primary election will take place. The two Republican candidates, Louie Sanchez and Steve Jones, will compete against each other to challenge incumbent Melanie Stansbury. The district, based in Albuquerque, leans towards the Democratic party.
Washington D.C. residents will cast their votes in a primary election for the city’s nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House. Meanwhile, in Iowa, which held the first-in-the-nation caucuses in January, voters will select nominees for local races and U.S. House seats, including one that could potentially affect the House’s control.
Voters in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District will have the task of selecting a Democratic nominee to challenge the incumbent Republican, Zach Nunn, who won against a Democratic incumbent in the previous election.