Donald Trump emerged victorious in a series of Republican presidential nominating contests across multiple states on Tuesday, propelling him closer to a potential rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.
On Super Tuesday, voters in 15 states and one U.S. territory participated in casting their ballots for presidential nominees, with polling stations set to close gradually throughout the evening, culminating with Alaska concluding the day at midnight EST (0500 on Wednesday GMT).
Trump appeared poised for triumphs in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley was anticipated to secure her only victory of the night in Vermont. Results from other races were still pending.
Exit polls conducted by Edison in California, North Carolina, and Virginia revealed that immigration and the economy were primary concerns for voters in both parties. A majority of Republican voters in these states expressed support for deporting illegal immigrants, aligning with Trump’s stance on immigration.
Katherine Meredith, a 65-year-old homemaker in California’s Huntington Beach, expressed her support for Trump, citing concerns about the situation at the border.
While Biden was expected to dominate the Democratic contests, activists critical of his staunch backing of Israel urged Muslim Americans and progressives to cast “uncommitted” protest votes in Minnesota, similar to efforts seen in Michigan.
Edison projections indicated that Trump secured victories in Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Iowa.
Despite facing a slew of criminal charges, Trump has maintained a strong presence in the Republican campaign, triumphing in nearly all contests thus far and narrowing down the field of candidates to two.
Although Trump cannot secure enough delegates to formally clinch the nomination on Tuesday, a commanding performance would exert further pressure on Haley, prompting speculation about the viability of her long-shot bid.
Trump’s advisers anticipate a mathematical elimination of Haley by March 19, coinciding with the commencement of his first criminal trial in New York, where he faces charges related to concealing hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Biden emphasized the need to address the “extreme division and violence” perpetuated by Trump’s supporters.
Beyond the presidential race, voters also participated in down-ticket contests, including races in California to identify successors to the late Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In Arizona, independent U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek reelection, setting the stage for a contentious battle for her seat that could influence control of the closely divided Senate.
Pop icon Taylor Swift encouraged her followers to vote on Instagram, refraining from endorsing specific candidates. However, Biden’s campaign remains hopeful that Swift will eventually throw her support behind his candidacy, as she did in 2020.
Haley’s candidacy has underscored potential vulnerabilities for Trump in the general election, as she garnered significant support in some state contests, suggesting unease among independents and moderate Republicans about another Trump presidency.
A notable portion of voters in North Carolina expressed reservations about Trump’s fitness for office if convicted of a crime, while a majority in Virginia believed he would still be fit for the presidency under similar circumstances.
In addition to the ongoing case in New York, Trump faces federal and state charges related to election interference and retention of classified documents. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the legal battles loom large as the election approaches.
