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Primaries in 15 states: “Super Tuesday” is considered a crucial milestone in the US presidential election campaign. What’s the matter? And how is the day going? The star answers the most important questions.
His triumph was sudden and unexpected, but his faux pas was less so: When Joe Biden climbed onto the stage in Los Angeles on the very late evening of March 3, 2020, to celebrate his victory on “Super Tuesday,” he grabbed the hand of someone next to him standing woman. He declared solemnly: “This is my little sister.” Which, unfortunately, she wasn’t. She was also standing next to him, just on the other side.
The usual, albeit small, embarrassment for Biden was quickly forgotten, because that evening the man who would throw Donald Trump out of the White House six months later returned to the presidential race. “Super Tuesday” once again set the decisive pre-election course. Like twelve years before, when Barack Obama left Hillary Clinton behind – and ultimately became US President.
What is Super Tuesday?
In the USA, the parties’ presidential candidates are determined by preliminary votes in the individual states. The elections are concentrated on “Super Tuesday”, which traditionally takes place at the beginning of March. Voting is scheduled in 15 states this year, including populous states like California and Texas.
Where exactly do people vote?
The primaries will take place in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Elections will also take place in the US territory of American Samoa.
Who chooses whom?
Both Democrats and Republicans vote. There is also the result of the Democratic primary in Iowa, which was held by email in recent weeks.
Delegates are elected who then present the votes at the party conferences. Each state sends a different number of elected representatives depending on the size of the population. In large states like Texas there are more than 200, in small regions like American Samoa there are only six.
Roughly speaking, a third of the delegates will vote on Super Tuesday. This year, the Republicans will have 874 out of a total of 2,429 representatives. After super election day, almost half of all votes have been cast.
How did Super Tuesday go in the past?
Since the 1980s, the winners of Super Tuesday have always become their parties’ presidential candidates.
What expectations do applicants have this year?
This year everything is different. Because the candidates for both the Democrats and the Republicans are almost certain. As the incumbent US President, Joe Biden enjoys the privilege of being able to enter the race without serious internal party competition. And Republicans have long been completely devoted to Donald Trump.
However, Democrats are increasingly discussing Biden’s age and fitness for office. It is therefore unlikely, although not impossible, that the 81-year-old might make way for someone younger.
Read here how the Democrats could move forward without Joe Biden
Donald Trump, on the other hand, is not so much troubled by his advanced age, but rather by his numerous ongoing lawsuits. It is therefore unlikely, although not impossible, that Trump will be replaced by another candidate at the last minute.
What happens after “Super Tuesday”?
The primary elections run until the beginning of June. Afterwards, the party conferences take place at which the candidates are officially chosen. The Republicans meet in mid-July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Democrats a month later a few kilometers further south in Chicago, Illinois.
How is the party conference going?
The conventions are three-day spectacles at which the parties celebrate themselves and their candidates. The Democrats need a majority of 3,979 delegates to run for president. The Republicans have a majority of 2,429 delegates.
You can read what will happen next with the 2024 US election here:
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
