The US Presidential Primary system is a series of elections held by political parties to select or nominate their official candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Every state holds its primary elections with its own set of rules, in which party members vote for their preferred candidate as the presidential nominee. The process usually begins with the Iowa caucuses, followed by the New Hampshire primaries, and then moves on to other states. However, this year the Democratic party chose South Carolina as its first primary. Giving individual voters a say in choosing the Party’s presidential nominees is the goal of the primaries. To be eligible for the nomination, a candidate must receive a minimum number of delegates, which is determined by the Party caucus or primary regulations.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the 2024 US Presidential Primary elections, former President Donald Trump emerged victorious in all of the Republican primaries held as of March 4th aside from Washington, DC. The outcome of these elections solidifies Trump’s standing as the runaway favorite within the Republican Party and shows stronger-than-ever support among conservative voters. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who became the first woman to win a Republican primary with a win in Washington, DC, remains in the race while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out in January (NPR).
On the Democratic side, the New Hampshire primary saw an intriguing twist when President Joe Biden secured victory as a write-in candidate after he decided not to appear on the state’s ballot when New Hampshire refused to comply with the Democratic National Committee’s new calendar. The new calendar schedule made South Carolina the first presidential nominating state (Politico). Like Trump, Biden has dominated all of the primaries held thus far. As the primary elections progress, candidates from both major parties continue to travel across the country, campaigning to secure votes and build momentum for their respective bids.
Another important storyline to follow is the ongoing investigations of Donald Trump. These include allegations of mishandling classified information, his actions surrounding the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and involvement in a hush money scandal. Some states have attempted to remove him from their primary ballot. For example, in Illinois a judge ruled that Trump must be removed from the state’s primary ballot, citing a rarely used clause of the 14th Amendment (Politico). Ultimately, however, on March 4th the Supreme Court ruled that states do not have the power to kick Trump off the ballot.
Some people believe that the United States Primary system needs reform. These critics cite issues such as low voter turnout and inconsistent management across different states. On the other hand, other people such as Economics teacher Mr. Witterschein believe that it serves its purpose well. “I do not think the primary system has to be reformed,” he stated. “Instead, I think the two-party system could stand to be reformed and improved.” Senior Joe Capozzi also seemed to agree. “Although it has its flaws, overall, I think the primaries are a good way to select presidential candidates,” he explained.
Be sure to follow the latest updates in the United States Presidential Primary elections. Some trusted sources are the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball which offer previews and predictions of the upcoming races.
