With “just shy of 55,000 votes counted,” Utah Republican Party Chair Robert Axson told reporters at the Utah Trucking Association headquarters that Mr. Trump had 57.1 percent of the vote to Ms. Haley’s 41.7 percent.
While the lead is significant, the race has not been called.
Utah’s Republican presidential preference caucus has been marred but technical glitches that required some voters to wait for an hour or more to get into caucus sites.
“There was a substantially large crowds that came in—that was fantastic—but we had a couple of technical glitches. We’re looking into what those are and why that delayed the system,” Mr. Axson said.
“But we are confident in the results and also the credentialing of those folks. So, there’s no question as it pertained to any of the numbers. It was more just a question of some ill-timed curveballs coming at us, right when people were were coming into the caucuses.”
Mr. Axson said results were coming in quickly and expected to have further updates shortly.
Trump Wins Alaska
Former President Donald Trump won the Alaska GOP caucus, the second last Super Tuesday contest to be called.Dick Brewbaker, Caroleene Dobson in Run-Off for Republican Party in Alabama’s 2nd District
The race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District Republican Party representation will head to a run-off.On March 5, the AP called the 2nd District statewide primary race and said it had enough data to set the entire field for an April run-off.
Dick Brewbaker will run against Caroleen Dobson in a contest to represent the GOP in November. Shomari Figures and Anthony Daniels will compete for the Democrats in the race to represent the newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District.
Utah Results Trickle In
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah–A glitch in an online check-in system to verify party registrations fostered long lines and delays in kicking off Utah’s Super Tuesday Republican presidential preference caucuses.As a result, by nearly 11 p.m. MT, Utah Republican Party Chair Robert Axson told reporters that only 36 percent of their vote had been reported. He did not provide any details regarding who was leading in the GOP presidential race between former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Mr. Axson said about 55-to-60 percent of Salt Lake County precincts had reported results with Davis County the “big hold-out.” He suspected the county would file all its results in one batch and that results would come quickly.
Democrats, who participated in a state-run primary, reported no such problems. The AP declared incumbent President Joe Biden the winner moments after polls closed–before Republicans in some cases even began their caucuses.
Mr. Biden won all 34 of Utah’s Democratic delegates, notching 88 percent of the tally–the same percentage President Trump won in Utah’s 2020 primary when he was also running virtually unopposed.
Haley Campaign Shrugs Off Republican ‘Unity’ Calls
Nikki Haley’s campaign rejected calls from leading Republicans to unify behind former President Donald Trump following his dominant performance on Super Tuesday.Olivia Perez-Cubas, a spokeswoman with the Haley campaign, shrugged off President Trump’s allies encouraging the party to rally around the frontrunner heading into the November general election.
“Unity is not achieved by simply claiming we’re united,” she said.
“Today, in state after state, there remains a large block of Republican primary voters who are expressing deep concerns about Donald Trump. That is not the unity our party needs for success.”
She added: “Addressing those voters’ concerns will make the Republican Party and America better.”
Ms. Perez-Cubas did not outline the former South Carolina governor’s next moves.
Ms. Haley avoided being swept on Super Tuesday by winning Vermont in a tight race. She captured 50 percent of the vote in The Green Mountain State.
Shomari Figures, Anthony Daniels in Run-Off for Democrats in Alabama’s 2nd District
The race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic Party representation will head to a run-off.On March 5, the Associated Press called the race for Shomari Figures and Anthony Daniels. A special, run-off election will be held in April between the two to decide who will represent the Democratic Party.
On the Republican side, Dick Brewbaker will be one of the two candidates in the run-off race, the Associated Press declared. The second candidate will either be Caroleen Dobson or Greg Albritton.
Adam Schiff, Steve Garvey Advance in California Senate Primary
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) placed first in California’s all-party primary shortly before midnight on Super Tuesday.Republican Steve Garvey, a former baseball star, notched second place in the “jungle primary” to go on to face Mr. Schiff in the general election.
Mr. Schiff and Mr. Garvey topped the list for both the special primary to complete the unexpired term of the late Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and the regular primary for the next term for the same seat, which starts in January 2025.
Heading into Super Tuesday, Mr. Schiff’s supporters bolstered the baseball legend’s campaign to achieve an easier Republican-Democratic match in November instead of an all-blue battle.
The other two Democrats in the race trailed by wide margins.
Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) placed third and captured about 15 percent. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) gained approximately 7 percent.
Ms. Lee refrained from conceding, noting that her campaign will allow “the time for every ballot cast—every voice—to be counted.”
“Our campaign has always been about giving a voice to people who don’t feel heard in Washington—and I’m exceptionally proud of the grassroots, multi-ethnic, cross-generational coalition this campaign built across California to send someone who will fight for them and speak truth to power in the Senate,” Ms. Lee said in a statement.
Barry Moore Wins Alabama’s 1st District GOP Primary, Unseating Jerry Carl
Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) will likely secure another two years in Washington after beating Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) in a competitive primary contest in southern Alabama.On March 5, Mr. Moore won the statewide contested primary between himself and Mr. Carl to represent a newly redrawn 1st Congressional District in Washington. That district, which was modified by the state in order to grant black Alabamans a better opportunity to send representatives to Washington, now stretches across the southernmost counties of Alabama from the Mississippi to Georgia borders.
Mr. Carl conceded in a short speech before his supporters assembled at the TimberCreek Golf Club in Daphne, Alabama.
The redraw plan put Mr. Moore, who currently represents the 2nd District, inside the 1st District, setting up the Super Tuesday face-off.
With his primary win, Mr. Moore will square off against Democratic Party candidate Tom Holmes in November. The Republican typically wins in the southern Alabama elections.
The new 2nd District, which lies directly north of the 1st and includes Montgomery County, Alabama, also had a primary contest on March 5. However, the result was inconclusive with so many candidates running to represent the Democratic and Republican parties.
A run-off between the candidates in each party who received the most voter support on Super Tuesday is set to take place on April 16.
Trump Wins California
Former President Donald Trump won the biggest prize of Super Tuesday with a victory in California.With 169 delegates up for grabs, this win will likely push President Trump within striking distance of the delegate threshold to secure the GOP nomination.
“Tonight’s results leave the American people with a clear choice: Are we going to keep moving forward or will we allow Donald Trump to drag us backwards into the chaos, division, and darkness that defined his term in office?” he stated.
He touted the progress made under his administration.
“If Donald Trump returns to the White House, all of this progress is at risk. He is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people.”
President Biden dominated every Democratic contest on Super Tuesday, except the American territory of Samoa. Meanwhile, his predecessor and GOP frontrunner, President Donald Trump, has secured victory in 12 states so far, including Virginia, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, and California. He lost Vermont to GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
With Super Tuesday results, both President Biden and former President Trump have moved much closer to winning their parties’ nominations.
“Today, millions of voters across the country made their voices heard—showing that they are ready to fight back against Donald Trump’s extreme plan to take us backwards,” President Biden said.
“My message to the country is this: Every generation of Americans will face a moment when it has to defend democracy. Stand up for our personal freedom. Stand up for the right to vote and our civil rights. To every Democrat, Republican, and independent who believes in a free and fair America: This is our moment. This is our fight. Together, we will win.”
Concern at the Carl Party in Alabama?
The hour is getting late in the 1st Congressional District race and nothing is official yet. However, concern is growing among supporters of Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) at his election night watch party.According to the unofficial results published by the Alabama Secretary of State on their website, seven of the nine counties that make up the newly redrawn south Alabama district have counted 100 percent of their votes.
The same source says Rep. Barry Moore is leading Mr. Carl with 52 percent of the vote against 47.9 percent.
Mamun Siddiq, a member of the Mobile County Republican Executive Committee, who reviewed the figures with The Epoch Times said, “We have a concern then.”
Haley Wins Vermont
Former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. Amb. to the U.N. Nikki Haley won the Vermont GOP presidential primary in what was a tough night for her campaign on March 5.The race was called by AP at 10:37 p.m. ET.
This was Ms. Haley’s second primary win after having won Washington D.C. earlier this week.
Donald Trump on Super Tuesday Result: ‘This Was a Big One’
Former President Donald Trump took the stage at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, after securing 11 victories on Super Tuesday, calling the result “a big one.”The Republican frontrunner dedicated his speech to railing against President Joe Biden’s record on the U.S.-Mexico border, inflation, crime, and foreign policy.
“Our cities are being overrun with migrant crime and that’s Biden migrant crime,” he said. “They’ll stand in the middle of the street and have fistfights with police officers.”
He called the incumbent the “worst president in the history of our country,” adding that “the world is laughing at us. The world is taking advantage of us.”
“Three years ago, we were the most respected country anywhere in the world by far, the real estate billionaire mogul added.
President Trump said during his time in the White House there was “no inflation” and the United States had “the safest border in the history of our country.”
He also took credit for defeating ISIS “in four weeks.”
“For 20 years they were fighting ISIS, I defeated ISIS in four weeks, we got rid of ISIS 100 percent,” President Trump said.
The GOP frontrunner iterated that there were no wars in his term.
“We had no wars—remember when I had the debate with Hillary Clinton, … but to keep us out of wars and that’s what happened,” he said.
In his roughly 20-minute speech, President Trump refrained from mentioning his sole remaining GOP challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Trump Takes the Stage at Mar-a-Lago
Former President Donald Trump has taken the stage after winning 11 Super Tuesday states.“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason. This is a big one,” he said amid chants from the crowd of “USA! USA! USA!”
He then launched straight into what he described as the problems the country has faced in the last three years under President Joe Biden, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel, the border crisis, and inflation.
“He’s the worst president in the history of our country.”
Excited Supporters Gather for Steve Garvey’s Watch Party
PALM DESERT, Calif.--Colleen Gallant of Orange County’s Anaheim Hills was in the crowd at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey’s watch party in Southern California.
“I’m out here to support Steve Garvey for California senator. I voted for him, and once I found out he was running, I was all hands in. I love everything he’s doing and everything he has done, and I love the agenda that he has moving forward for the state of California. He has the same policies that I believe in, so I’m rooting for him all the way for November,” Ms. Gallant said.
Evelyn Jones of Yorba Linda, California, told The Epoch Times she is at Steve Garvey’s watch party to support him.
“I’m here to support Steve Garvey because he is fighting for the soul of California. We are in deep trouble in California, and I want to be able to help him save California,” Ms. Jones said.
Pamela Lieb of La Quinta, formerly Los Angeles, said:
“I am a totally committed MAGA Republican. I totally support Steve Garvey 100 percent. That’s why I’m here tonight because I think he’s going to make a tremendous difference not only for the state of California, but also for the Senate. He’s got common-sense ideas and solutions to our problems,” Ms. Lieb said.
Biden Loses to a Little-Known Candidate in American Samoa
President Joe Biden dominated every Democratic contest on Super Tuesday, except American Samoa.He was unexpectedly defeated by Jason Palmer, a little-known presidential candidate, in the Democratic caucuses in Samoa. Mr. Palmer won 51 of the 91 ballots cast in the territory’s caucus, while President Biden won 40, according to the Associated Press.
Trump Wins 11 Primaries as Super Tuesday Disaster Looms for Haley
PALM BEACH, Fla.—President Donald Trump is dominating the Super Tuesday Republican nomination contest against Nikki Haley, defeating the former South Carolina governor in 11 states in a row.By 9:27 p.m. ET, The Associated projected President Trump as the winner in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Massachusetts, Maine, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado, and Minnesota.
Four more states, including California, are yet to be called.
Ms. Haley looked to snag at least one state in the consequential contest. As of 8:56 p.m. ET she appeared to have a chance to do so in Vermont, coming within one percent of President Trump with 46 percent of the votes counted.
Karoline Leavitt, President Trump’s press secretary, said the campaign had predicted “an avalanche of delegates ... for the president this is one more pivotal step on his way to becoming the official Republican nominee.”
She said the campaign is focused on continuing to draw contrasts between President Trump and President Biden.
President Trump’s resounding victories follow one day on the heels of a Supreme Court decision that said that states do not have the authority to disqualify him from the ballot.
The president was scheduled to address his supporters later in the night, and a crowd of supporters had already gathered at his Florida resort for the remarks.
At a ballroom in Mar-a-Lago ahead of President Trump’s speech the crowd would burst into cheers every time a state was called.
“USA!USA!USA!” the crowd cheered when Texas was called for the former president.
President Trump is on track to clinch the party’s nomination within a matter of weeks, while the path for Ms. Haley has shrunk from narrow to near impossible with the sweep of the first seven states on Super Tuesday.
Ms. Haley’s campaign said she would not be delivering remarks on Tuesday night. Over the weekend leading up to the election, she suggested she may remain in the race even if there was a sliver of hope.
Mar-a-Lago attendee Leo Terrell, a civil rights attorney who switched from Democrat to Republican, said, “America wants Donald Trump. Nikki Haley should do the best thing and drop out of the race. If the election was held today, President Trump would win in a landslide.”
Ms. Leavitt said that no matter who President Trump faces off against, “it doesn’t change our message,” because Democrats have supported the policies of President Biden, which “are hurting hardworking Americans.”
She said President Trump advocates securing the U.S. border and rebuilding the nation’s economy and military. Ms. Leavitt urged Ms. Haley to drop out of the race, which would be “what is best for the Republican Party, and adhere to the will of Republican voters.”
Asked what is the biggest challenge President Trump faces, Ms. Leavitt said, “there’s a lot of challenges when you’re up against the corrupt media, when you’re up against the entire establishment, when the entire justice department is being weaponized against you.”
Facing all of that takes great courage, she said, and President Trump “wakes up every day ready to fight for this great country.”
Christina Bobb, an attorney at Save America who works on election issues, said legal issues confronting the former president are complex. But she also said it boils down to something simple: “I don’t think Donald Trump has done anything wrong.”
She also thinks many Americans see that the justice system has been weaponized by the Biden administration against his chief political opponent.
Also at Mar-a-Lago was Bruce LeVell, President Trump’s national diversity coordinator, who told The Epoch Times: “I see the same kind of adrenaline and momentum that I saw in 2015 … The energy is incredible.”
He said more polling confirms what he is seeing in his daily life: more moderates, Democrats, and minorities voting for Trump. “More people are saying, ‘What is this ‘America First’ movement? I like that,’” he said.
Utah Caucus Voting Underway Despite Website Snag
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah—GOP caucus-goers are selecting precinct officers and state convention delegates after a website glitch fostered delays and long lines at some sites.At Hunter High School in West Valley City, a Salt Lake City suburb, caucus captains reported some voters left rather than wait in lines to participate in the Super Tuesday Republican presidential preference poll.
At least seven precincts are caucusing at the high school in a somewhat ad hoc fashion; there were 25 voters in the school’s performing arts auditorium and 35 West Valley City Precinct 18 members in a small classroom.
By 8:15 p.m., WVC 18 caucus-goers were still selecting convention delegates. Through the deliberations, voters could drop their paper presidential ballot into a box on a desk.
Unlike caucuses in Iowa and elsewhere, there aren’t any pitches by candidate precinct representatives during the caucus. All the discussion—some quite comical among precinct neighbors—is on elections for precinct officers, county committee seats, and convention delegates.
Super Tuesday Brings Biden Closer to a Trump Rematch
President Joe Biden is poised to secure a significant victory on Super Tuesday, the pivotal night of the 2024 presidential nomination race, with little opposition.The Democratic presidential frontrunner has already won 14 of 15 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, and Utah, according to the results as of 10:09 p.m. ET.
Today’s results came after the incumbent scored a decisive victory in Michigan’s Feb. 27 Democratic presidential primary, winning over 81 percent of the votes. In Michigan, “uncommitted,” the protest vote against the president had garnered around 13 percent, much higher than expected.
Like Michigan, protest votes were cast in multiple states against President Biden during the Super Tuesday for his handling of the Hamas-Israel war.
According to early results, over 17 percent of Minnesota voters chose “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary.
Lights, Camera, Action
The local television press is getting ready for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) to speak later in the evening on March 5.
Local and statewide affiliates of the so-called big four networks–ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX–have set up cameras and are preparing to begin local news coverage soon. Crews for WBMA in Birmingham, Alabama, WPMI and WKRG in Mobile, Alabama, and WTVY and WDHN in Dothan, Alabama are here.
WPMI and some other local networks around Alabama are starting their election night specials at 9 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Carl campaign is hosting an election night watch party at the TimberCreek Golf Club in Daphne, Alabama.
Trump Fans Waiting on Texas Primary Numbers
Republicans at a local watch party were in high spirits awaiting results for former President Donald Trump and others down ticket on the state level.
Rubia Rangel said she is a hard-core Trump fan because he brought prosperity to working-class people.
Now, under President Joe Biden, inflation and grocery prices are sky-high.
“Every working-class American is hurting,” she said.
Mark Robinson Delivers Victory Speech in North Carolina Governor’s Race
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—After clinching the Republican nomination for North Carolina governor, candidate Mark Robinson spoke to his supporters at a Greensboro, North Carolina, watch party.Mr. Robinson leads by nearly 40 points over his closest rival, with more than 95 percent reporting in a campaign that’s been marked by mudslinging and attacks.
But Mr. Robinson said he doesn’t plan to follow suit in his general election campaign, where he’ll be facing off against Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the state attorney general.
“In this general election, we’re not gonna allow these folks to drag this campaign into the mud,” Mr. Robinson said. “Those who wanna go into the mud, feel free—we’re going toward the substantive issues that North Carolinians face.”
He cited education and the “economic doldrums” facing the state as key examples of these “substantive issues.”
“The vision, the call, the mission is to grow this state,” he said.
“This state has been doggone good to me,” he added, citing his meteoric rise from furniture manufacturer to Republican nominee for governor.
“It’s time for me to repay the debt.”
Trump Wins Minnesota
Former President Donald Trump won the Minnesota GOP primary.The North Star State has 39 delegates in play, most of which will likely go to President Trump.
Voter Verification System Causes Delays
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah—A glitch in the Utah Republican Party’s voter verification system had caucus-goers waiting in long lines to get the process started, a state representative told The Epoch Times.“Right now, it looks like the website is down,” Rep. Matt MacPherson said as he asked voters waiting to caucus at Hunter High School in West Valley City south of Salt Lake City to be patient.
At least seven precincts are caucusing at the high school. Caucuses were to begin at 7 p.m. but there were still long lines of voters waiting to get into their caucus sites within the school.
Mr. MacPherson said the glitch was in “credentialing,” or verifying voters’ party registrations. He said the problem is statewide, but was confident it was being resolved.
Former President Donald Trump is projected to win Colorado’s Republican presidential primary.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. local time. At 7:09, the Associated Press called the race for President Trump.
Colorado Republicans will send 37 delegates to the Republican National Convention this summer. Most will go to the victor in the contest.
As of 7:12, President Trump had claimed 60.6 percent of the vote. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, his sole major rival on the Republican side, had just 36 percent.
The victory comes after Super Tuesday wins by President Trump across the country, including in Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maine, and Virginia. He is on pace to gain the vast majority of the 865 delegates at stake on March 5, creating even more insuperable difficulties for Ms. Haley as she weighs whether to prolong her campaign.
Mamun Siddiq has no shortage of campaign merch.
Mr. Siddiq, 51, of Mobile, Alabama, is carrying around his Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) campaign gear at the official watch party at the TimberCreek Golf Club in Daphne, Alabama.
Trump Wins Massachusetts Primary
Former President Donald Trump won the Massachusetts GOP primary, beating former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.Alabama has 50 delegates up for grabs.
Trump Wins Maine Primary
President Donald Trump beat former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Maine GOP primary on Super Tuesday, one of the few states that seemed competitive for the former United Nations Ambassador.Biden Wins Maine Primary
President Joe Biden won the Maine Democratic Primary on Super Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race at 8:27 p.m. ET.Biden Wins Massachusetts Primary
President Joe Biden won the Massachusetts Democratic Primary. The Associated Press called the race at 8:27 p.m. ET.Jerry Carl Campaign Party Begins in Alabama
The Jerry Carl campaign party is underway as the polls have closed in Alabama.
On March 5, Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) is running in a primary contest against Rep. Barry Moore in a newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. The polls in the Yellowhammer State closed at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Mr. Carl has arrived at the course’s clubhouse but has not yet appeared at the party. On March 4, he told The Epoch Times he doesn’t expect to make any kind of speech until later in the evening.
Trump Wins Oklahoma Primary
Former President Donald Trump took home the prize in Oklahoma’s GOP primary on Super Tuesday.The former president won with the former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley following behind in second place.
Biden Wins Oklahoma Primary
President Joe Biden beat Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and self-help author Marianne Williamson in the Oklahoma Democratic primary on Super Tuesday.Moore Wins North Carolina CD-14 GOP Primary
Timothy Moore, the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, handily won his election. He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.Biden Wins Tennessee
President Joe Biden unsurprisingly won Tennessee’s Democratic primary where he was unchallenged on the ballot besides the “uncommitted” category.President Biden prevailed in Tennessee after the race was called by The Associated Press.
Robinson Wins North Carolina GOP Governor Primary
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robison won the Republican primary for governor.Stein Wins North Carolina Democratic Governor Primary
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein won the North Carolina Democratic gubernatorial primary.Trump Wins North Carolina Primary
After winning the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24 with 59.8 percent of the vote, former President Donald Trump prevailed in North Carolina on Super Tuesday.While many wondered if Ms. Haley would win her home state of South Carolina during its February primary, most expected President Trump to succeed in North Carolina.
California Voter Says Trump Needs to Fix Economy, Border Security
MADERA, Calif.—Citing public safety and economic concerns, one voter said former President Donald Trump is the answer to many of the issues affecting the nation.“There are a bunch of issues, from the economy, inflation, the border crisis, and crime—which is ridiculous,” Randy Lapin, 65, of Madera, California, told The Epoch Times.
“Trump will do a better job than Biden in all of them.”
While some people believe most Californians are liberals, he rejects the notion and said there are many long-time conservatives in the state.
“There’s millions and millions of us, and we never get to say our piece,” Mr. Lapin said.
Vietnam Veteran Who Flew 740 Missions Says National Security Is at Stake
MADERA, Calif.—A Marine Corps veteran who flew 740 missions in just over 13 months in Vietnam told The Epoch Times that the millions of people pouring across the U.S. southern border is the paramount issue during the 2024 election.“They’re sneaking into our country,” said Bobby Thatcher, 81, of Madera, California.
“We are going to suffer the consequences from now on.”
A lack of border security is jeopardizing the nation, he said.
“Our enemies can walk in, and I’m very much against that,” Mr. Thatcher said.
A change of leadership is needed to correct the issue by “upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States,” he said.
“The most important thing is to get rid of the current president.”
Polls Close in Several States
Polls close in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.Biden Wins North Carolina Primary
With no one else on the ballot besides “no preference,” President Joe Biden easily won the North Carolina primary on Super Tuesday.Polls Close in North Carolina
The polls closed in North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Former President Donald Trump is expected to win the GOP presidential primary, while Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is expected to win the GOP gubernatorial race.Haley Watching Super Tuesday Results in Home State
Former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley “is in the Charleston area and will be watching returns with staff, who are happy warriors tonight. The mood is jubilant. There is lots of food and music as staff wraps up GOTV efforts,” according to her campaign.This comes as former President Donald Trump is expected to dominate Super Tuesday races, bringing him closer to his third GOP nomination.
Trump Wins Virginia Primary
The Associated Press projected former President Donald Trump as the winner of the West Virginia primary.The Virginia GOP primary lacks partisan voter registration. Some wondered if former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley would prevail in Virginia if enough Independents and Democrats voted in the GOP race.
Virginia has 48 available delegates.
Among all 15 Super Tuesday states, Virginia was the only one where former President Trump led Ms. Haley over a single-digit margin, according to FiveThirtyEight. The margins in other states are double digits, with the largest in Alabama at over 70 points.
Trump knew the challenge and addressed it by holding a rally in Richmond on Saturday. His supporters told The Epoch Times today that the event was “really energizing.”
At the rally, Trump told his supporters about Super Tuesday: “We win Virginia; we win 100 percent. The election is over.”
With Virginia down, President Trump is poised to win all Super Tuesday Republican contests.
President Joe Biden beat President Trump by 10 points in the 2020 general election. The latest Roanoke College Poll shows that the gap has narrowed to 4 points (47 percent vs. 43 percent).
Both parties view Virginia as a potential win in the 2020 general election.
Biden Takes Vermont Primary
President Joe Biden won the Vermont Democratic primary. Vermont has 16 available delegates.The Associated Press called the race for President Biden at 6 p.m. ET.
Blue Minnesota Has Some Republicans
LITTLE FALLS, Minn.—If you’re looking for Republicans in Minnesota, it helps to leave the Twin Cities. Driving north past St. Cloud, where more of the gas stations sell minnows and ice fishing equipment, folks in the smaller towns tend to lean right.
Morrison County has one of the highest percentages of Republicans in the state.
Janelle Voltin, 61, is from Little Falls, the Morrison County seat. As an independent, she said she had a difficult time deciding who to vote for, but ultimately chose former President Donald Trump, “ for the safety of the country as a whole,” she told The Epoch Times.
She said Trump would be strong on foreign policy and says that is needed. But in this case, she was talking about immigration–a topic many people mentioned throughout the day, no matter the candidate they chose. The out of control southern border weighs heavy on the minds of voters throughout the state. Still, Ms. Voltin feels that President Joe Biden has been strong on Israel and said that made her decision more difficult.
She also considered voting for Nikki Haley, but said she preferred Ms. Haley as the U.N. Ambassador, and not so much as a presidential candidate.
“She turns me off in some ways, but I like the fact that she’s a female. I would love to be able to vote for a female for president,” Ms. Voltin said.
This is the second time Minnesota has held a primary. Previously the state only held a caucus.
Pat Young, 45, voted for Donald Trump and can’t understand why people would vote for someone else.
He said it troubles him to see people coming into the United States illegally and getting free housing and services while veterans who served in the U.S. military face homelessness and other financial hardships.
“Why do we take it for granted that this country is the same as it always has been?” Young said.
After Getting Wrong Ballot, California Voter Questions Election Integrity
MADERA, Calif.—A lifelong registered Republican is questioning the integrity of the primary election after he received a ballot intended for voters with no party preference that did not include former President Donald Trump as an option on the ballot.“I don’t know how this could have happened because I’ve never changed my registration,” Saul, a 48-year-old veteran who only gave his first name, told The Epoch Times.
“Somebody switched it because I would never switch it.”
After complaining about the problem at the Madera County Government Center March 5, he was given the proper ballot, but the incident left him doubting the electoral process.
“There’s something going on,” he said. “I just hope my vote counts.”
Elections officials in the polling center told The Epoch Times that similar problems had arisen with multiple ballots but said that anyone who brings the issue to their attention will receive the correct ballot.
Saul’s concern extends to others in more rural areas who don’t live near in-person voting centers and for those who potentially didn’t notice that they got the wrong form.
“If it’s happening here, it might be happening across the country,” he said.
Additionally, he suggested voter ID laws are needed to secure elections.
“You need an ID to fly and to buy alcohol and cigarettes, so why don’t you need an ID to vote?”
High-jinks at Monument, Colorado, Polling Place
MONUMENT, Colo.—Birds were riding updrafts into Monument, Colorado, a town at the foot of the Rampart Range near the Air Force Academy as people headed for the polls on the afternoon of Super Tuesday.A little more than 100 feet from a polling place, Michael Staunton was deadpanning that his service dog, Benny–an “I Voted” sticker affixed to his collar–had participated in the primaries.
“Don’t tell the Trump people,” he joked.
Then Mr. Staunton, who said he teaches political science at a nearby college, shared that he had voted in the Democratic primary despite being “registered as a Republican.”
In Colorado, only unaffiliated voters can choose which primary they want to vote in. Those who are registered as Republicans and Democrats when voting must stick with their party.
Kristi Ridlen, deputy chief clerk and recorder and public information officer for El Paso County, where Monument is located, sounded incredulous when asked about Mr. Staunton’s account.
“If he is a registered Republican, there is no way he would have been issued a Democratic primary ballot without changing his voter registration,” she told The Epoch Times.
The Epoch Times was instructed not to enter the voting center by Ms. Ridlen and so could not interview any poll workers.
Kevin Schutz, a Republican who voted for President Trump, confirmed that only unaffiliated voters could participate in the primary of their choice.
Like others who have spoken with The Epoch Times about Nikki Haley’s chances, he summed it all up with: “She’s done.”
The sentiment was echoed by Allison Thompson, who spoke with The Epoch Times near the polling place after casting her vote for President Trump.
Ms. Thompson was hard-pressed to explain how Colorado, once a battleground state with a strong Republican presence, had gone so heavily Democrat in recent years. Like Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who spoke with The Epoch Times on March 4, she pointed to an influx of liberal Californians.
Neither she nor Mr. Schutz have a high opinion of the Colorado GOP.
The local Republicans “fight all the time over the dumbest things,” Ms. Thompson said.
Oklahoma Pro-Life Christian Backs GOP Frontrunner
MUSKOGEE, Okla.—One pro-life Christian is unfazed by former President Donald Trump’s reported character issues.
Shelly Kirkhart, 54, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, told The Epoch Times she believes most of the criticisms are fabricated and that the former president’s policies ‐—from immigration to the economy to abortion— are in line with her beliefs.
“He is for life, I think he is going to get America back where it needs to be,” she said.
Most Republican Voters Will Support Party’s Nominee in General Election: NBC News Exit Poll
A majority of Republican voters in California, North Carolina, and Virginia will support the GOP nominee in November’s general election, according to early results from the NBC News Exit Polls.Sixty-three percent of North Carolina GOP primary voters will vote for the nominee no matter who it is, they said. A little more than a third (35 percent) of primary participants will not.
In Virginia, 57 percent will vote for the GOP nominee.
In California, 59 percent of primary voters will support the nominated Republican candidate.
Some of the exit polling data further revealed a split among Republican voters in Virginia as to whether President Joe Biden won the 2020 election legitimately. Fifty-five percent of Virginia Republicans said the incumbent’s 2020 victory was legitimate, while 46 percent disagreed.
If former President Donald Trump is convicted, is he fit for the presidency?
According to the network’s early exit poll results, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of North Carolina voters stated he would be. In The Golden State, 68 percent say President Trump would still be fit. Fifty-three percent of Virginia voters think he is fit for the White House if convicted.
On the economy, 75 percent of Virginia GOP primary voters say the condition of the nation’s economy is “not so good or poor.” Twenty-four percent think it is “excellent or good.”
On abortion, 57 percent of primary voters in the Old Dominion oppose a federal law banning abortions.
Close to a third of Virginia Republicans would trust President Trump more to “handle an international crisis” than former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Additionally, half of the Old Dominion primary participants would be satisfied if Ms. Haley were the nominee. Thirty-eight percent of those in California would be satisfied if Ms. Haley won the nomination, while this number touches 40 percent in North Carolina.
Trump Highlights, Endorses Texas Candidates
PALM BEACH, Fla.—On Super Tuesday, former President Donald Trump reposted his past endorsements of lawmakers and candidates in four states that have delegates up for grabs in today’s primary elections.Just after the stroke of midnight, President Trump declared on his Truth Social platform: “Super Tuesday, a really big deal. Please get out and vote!” Then he “re-Truthed” a series of earlier endorsements, which he had issued in recent months, for politicians in Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas.
Fellow Republicans getting a boost from the former president included these congressmen from Texas: Reps. Wesley Hunt, Brian Babin, Mayra Flores, John Carter, Roger Williams, Beth Van Duyne, Troy Nehls, Jodey Arrington, Pete Sessions, Monica De La Cruz, Randy Weber, Ronny Jackson, August Pfluger, Lance Gooden, Pat Fallon, and Keith Self.
The former president also said he supports David Covey, who is running against Dade Phelan for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
Shifting his attention to North Carolina, President Trump said: “Speaker Tim Moore is doing a fantastic job leading the North Carolina House of Representatives” and is now running for Congress. “As your next Congressman, Tim will work hard to secure the border, stop inflation, strengthen our military, lower taxes, defend the Second Amendment, and stand up to the woke mob destroying our great country,” the former president wrote.
He advocated for Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.); Reps. Richard Hudson and Rep. Virginia Foxx, both of North Carolina; Reps. Mike Rogers, Gary Palmer, Dale Strong and Robert Aderholt, all of Alabama.
President Trump also reminded people that he supports congressional candidates Brandon Gill of Texas and Addison McDowell of North Carolina.
Texas has 161 delegates to allocate, the second-highest number of all 15 Super Tuesday states, behind California’s 169 delegates.
North Carolina has 74 delegates; Alabama, 50; and Arkansas, 40.
Maine’s Surge in Support for Trump Carries Over to Local Races
South Portland, Maine—For a Maine state senate candidate hoping to unseat a Democrat incumbent, the showing of support for Trump on Super Tuesday—and for the values associated with Trump’s style of pro-business populism—have had a visible spillover effect.Chris Howell, a 49-year-old South Portland entrepreneur, spent most of Super Tuesday at the polling station at Redbank Community Center, interacting with voters and collecting signatures to qualify to run against the District 29 incumbent, Democrat Anne Carney from Cumberland.
“We spent the day here at Redbank. We need 100 signatures to qualify and between my efforts today and one of the other locations, we got at least 120,” Mr. Howell told The Epoch Times.
Talking to voters who turned out to register their verdict on the contest between Nikki Haley and President Donald Trump, Mr. Howell said, relatively little support for Ms. Haley was in evidence.
Even in the blue enclave of South Portland, Mr. Trump’s themes appeared to resonate far more with voters.
“There wasn’t much support for Haley that I saw from anybody, although, in the conversations I’ve had with people, there were some who used to be Trumpers and then, after the last few years, they decided they were ‘Never Trumpers,” Mr. Howell said.
“But most of the people I encountered are pretty receptive to Trump, and they had to be registered as Republicans in order to sign my petition. The ones who did not support Trump were pleasant, none were really nasty,” he added.
Like many others present in Maine on Super Tuesday, Mr. Howell noted one issue of overriding concern to voters: the migrant crisis. It has changed life in Maine in ways unimaginable to residents even a few short years ago.
“I would say, definitely, immigration, the border crisis would be at the top of their priorities, and a lot of it is specific to Maine given the amount of money that has been spent to house the illegal migrants. They’re spending in the neighborhood of $56,000 per year, per person or family unit. The money being spent to support them is of great concern,” said Mr. Howell.
“There was definitely part of the conversation, as the way that the quality of life—inflation and crime—both have changed in the last couple decades and most drastically in the last few years.
“We’re starting to see crime in a way that we have not seen in the past, so a lot of people are concerned with that—some of these drive-by shootings we have seen in Portland in the last few months, and house break-ins all these things speak to an outrageous cost of living.”
Biden Called ‘Brain Dead’ as Frustration Boils Over in Oklahoma Political Rivalry
Oklahoma resident Kevin Fern, who was loading a vehicle near the doors of the polling location at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark., spoke to The Epoch Times, offering his frustration with President Joe Biden, shouting that he believes the president is “brain dead.”
Mr. Fern shouted his thoughts after hearing a local resident say he had voted for President Biden.
When asked if he was voting in Fort Smith, he proudly said he is a “registered Oklahoma voter,” but was at the site for work. The Oklahoman said he was voting for former President Donald Trump because “he knows what he is doing.”
“He had four years of our country doing what it was supposed to do,” Mr. Fern said, going on to outline what he thought were the biggest concerns for voters in the United States today, including the economy and securing the southern border.
When asked what he thought about President Trump’s border policies, he said he knew what the border policies were in the past.
“I trust him enough to know that he’ll do what needs to be done.”
Tennessee Student Fights Elements Alone for Local Campaign
NASHVILLE, Tenn—Jared is a freshman at Belmont University who has been out in front of the campus’ voting precinct since 8 a.m on Super Tuesday, and he told The Epoch Times that he does not plan to leave until the polls close.He said he’s stood alone outside the Curb Event Center and watched a slow stream of voters showing up.
Belmont has reportedly been a very liberal and politically active campus.
“It’s off and on,” he said. “Every 10 to 15 minutes you might have one, you might have two, you might have three. It depends.”
The Nashville native said he expected the busiest time for his location to be between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. but expects it to get slower in the afternoon closer to closing time.
While primary focus of March 5’s poll is the presidential primary, it is also the last day for Tennessee voters to cast their ballot for various county positions. And Jared is out showing support for a family friend running for property assessor, Tomesia Day.
“I chose this candidate because she’s qualified for the job,” he said. “She has the highest certification … and she’s been under the current administration, which is the other candidate. And so she’s trying to make a change.”
Polling stations in Davidson County close at 7 p.m.
Biden Supporter Says She Wishes He Would Make Way For a ‘Better’ Candidate
FORT SMITH Ark.— Residents Karen and David Ewing were quick to say they were voting for President Joe Biden in the primary at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith.
However, Ms. Ewing said she does not feel good about his prospects of winning the general election because of former President Donald Trump’s candidacy.
When asked if she was concerned about President Biden potentially dropping out of the presidential race, Ms. Ewing said she “wished he would and get somebody better,” for the Democrat ticket.
Both voters confirmed that they would gladly vote for candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with Mr. Ewing saying he was pleased that Mr. Kennedy is “younger” and “a little more progressive,” as well as not having already served for multiple decades in public office.
Arkansas Voting in District 3 ‘Smooth Sailing’
FORT SMITH Ark.—Election judge Linda Arnold told The Epoch Times from the polling location at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith that—aside from a “little bump” with machine voting early in the day—it has been smooth sailing for Super Tuesday.
In addition to two weeks of early voting, Sebastian County, Arkansas, with all 16 of its precincts, had brought in around 5,880 voters by mid-afternoon.
Fort Smith is part of Congressional District 3, where Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is being challenged by state Sen. Clint Penzo, who hopes to take his position as the Republican nominee and meet Democrat Caitlin Draper in the general election in November.
Dean Phillips Supporter Explains Choice
BOSTON, MA—Despite the rainy weather, soon-to-be 89-year-old Ervin Philipps, with the help of his walker, walked down to the Nazzaro Community Center on N. Bennet Street in Boston’s North End to vote in the Massachusetts presidential primaries.
Mr. Philipps, who is battling Parkinson’s Disease, is among the state’s more than 3 million independent voters. He voted for Democratic candidate Dean Phillips. Besides having a great last name, he joked, Mr. Philipps said he voted for the Minnesota congressman over President Joe Biden because he “seems smart, well spoken, and doesn’t lie.”
“Biden is the old Democrat machine,” said Mr. Philipps who voted for Biden in the 2020 election, “he doesn’t excite me and he doesn’t have any charisma.”
At the core of his candidate choice is President Biden’s continued support of Israel’s bombing in Gaza. Mr. Philipps said he supports Israel and understands, at least initially, why Israelis launched a counterattack against terror group Hamas, but feels Biden is “way overdue” in pushing for a ceasefire. Mr. Philipps said he has always voted independent.
Undeclared voters, which account for nearly 70 percent of registered voters in Massachusetts, are expected to play a large role in the outcome of the GOP primary between former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the largely Democratic New England state.
Immigration Is the Continuing Theme for Oklahoma Trump Supporters
EUFAULA, Okla.—Sooner State voters were hammering on illegal immigration and the economy as their reasons for voting for former President Donald Trump in the March 5 Super Tuesday primary election.Glenda Owens, 74, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, told The Epoch Times said she supports immigration as an overall positive thing for the country.
“But just come here legally,” she said.
She believes other candidates would probably like to take a similar stand but are intimidated by the media.
“They don’t want their laundry out there,” she said. “At least he’s got the gall to speak up.”
Democrat Voter Says Taxes Are High Enough in California
MERCED, Calif.—One voter in California said he always votes for the Democratic Party, but he is against raising taxes.“I make a middle income, and I just don’t want to have any more taxes to pay,” Aaron Pangelina, 41, of Merced, told The Epoch Times after voting.
He also said the war in Gaza is troubling and that fake videos and content on social media platforms are causing problems for voters.
“There’s a lot of misinformation going around on social media, and it is easy to sway someone’s vote.”
Older Maine Voters Look to Trump Amid High Crime and Homelessness, Says Caregiver
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine–Elderly voters in Maine are feeling a higher level of danger than they have known in their lifetimes as the migrant crisis brings homelessness and crime to their communities; many of them feel that former President Donald Trump is the candidate best qualified to address these issues, says a young local voter.Lydia Holmes, a 26-year-old caregiver who lives in South Portland, says the transformation wrought by the border crisis is like nothing she or other Maine residents have seen, and the political consequences will be dramatic indeed, even if much of Maine remains solidly blue.
“Trump is a great candidate, I believe, but there are some areas of Maine that are very liberal, like the Portland area, and that may put a dent in that side of it. But this has really inspired my interest in local politics. I was thanked very much by the older crowd for being here [to vote] and volunteering my time as a younger person,” Ms. Holmes told The Epoch Times.
As migrants pour in from the border without a social infrastructure in place to accommodate them, Ms. Holmes described a steady erosion in the quality of life in a state long associated with tranquility and low crime.
“I live in South Portland, but I’ve also lived in Wyndham, and I’ve noticed quite a difference, definitely, with the migrant crisis, and the homeless population that we have is quite a problem. I was sitting near people today who were talking about how Brunswick is starting to have issues with that, as well as Portland.
“ I’ve just heard that an old man was carjacked by a young teen. That, in my 26 years of living here, hasn’t started until the migrants have moved into our towns. Also, a lot of robbing on the streets, people getting beat up and left, and it’s crazy,” she said.
“It’s unfortunate, but I’m hopeful that we can do things to change it.”
For many elderly voters, the issue is particularly acute. They are often highly vulnerable to crime and unaccustomed to such levels of lawlessness.
“There’s a very high elderly population here as well. they can’t defend themselves as well, they get hurt very easily, what with people breaking into their houses. It’s so different from when I was little, we felt safe keeping our door unlocked, but now we don’t,” Ms. Holmes said.
Crime is not the only issue on Maine voters’ minds on Super Tuesday. Economic issues, and the cost of living, are also paramount.
“My age group cannot afford to move out of their parents’ house, generally. it’s near impossible unless you’re working three full time jobs, which no one can truly do. and I think that Trump has a very good outlook on those things and is able to make things move more in the government than they have recently,” said Ms. Holmes.
19-Year-Old Tennessee Republican Eyes Delegate Post
Mya Conrad will be casting her first presidential primary vote. She will also get the chance to vote for herself as a state delegate.The 19-year-old Economy major at Belmont is one of several active young Republicans under 30 who are throwing their names into the state delegate race. If elected, she will join the Tennessee delegation at the Republican National Convention.
“Everybody’s been telling me I’m the youngest on the ballot right now,” she told The Epoch Times the night before the election. “And I think that that’s really cool to have that opportunity.”
In order to run as a delegate, she had to obtain at least 25 signatures from registered voters who would be voting for the positions. She also had to file a declaration of candidacy in which she certified her party affiliation, intent to attend the convention, and commitment to a presidential candidate.
Ms. Conrad is committed to former President Donald Trump, and she also had to acquire and file a written consent form from the candidate.
Delegates who commit to a candidate make the promise to vote for him or her through two rounds of voting before being free to side with the majority’s pick.
“All my family is excited,” she said. “All my friends are excited and rooting for me. And I’m very excited for where this election takes us, yet very scared at the same time.”
Whether or not she earns a delegate position, Ms. Conrad sees this as the latest step in a political career where her strategy is to “say yes to everything” and plant roots in Nashville. She currently interns for Sen. Marsha Blackburn and has worked with Turning Point USA.
She also described the struggle in mobilizing her conservative peers.
I have so many friends who are closeted conservatives at Belmont, she said. People are too scared to come out as conservative, and the only way things will change is if their friends aren’t going to hate them for coming out as conservative. It’s a safety and popularity thing.
Colorado Primary–Castle Rock Is Not Entertained
A sign rather far from the entrance to the Kirk Hall polling place in Castle Rock, Colorado, in Douglas County, orders visitors to avoid “electioneering within 100 feet.”It cites Colorado Statute 1-13-174, which “includes campaigning for or against any candidate who is on the ballot or any ballot issue or ballot question that is on the ballot.”
Though signage did not clearly indicate it, election workers at the site were enforcing the 100-foot prohibition against media to keep them just outside the parking lot, where voters were entering and leaving.
Laura Skirde, communications project manager for the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, told The Epoch Times via email that, as of 12:30 p.m., 100 voters had shown up for in-person voting at the site on March 5.
There were ballot drop boxes nearby in Castle Rock and other parts of the county, but not at Kirk Hall.
One of the in-person voters, John B., told The Epoch Times he voted in the Republican primary for a candidate who has already dropped out, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“It’s not a protest vote against Trump or anybody like that. I just felt he deserved my vote,” he said, adding that he would vote for President Trump in the general.
He believes Nikki Haley doesn’t stand a chance.
Gary Moses, who voted in the Democratic primary for President Biden, was less willing to count out Ms. Haley.
“I look forward to her continuing and sending a message about Donald Trump because we couldn’t have any better person out there helping the Democrats,” he said.
“This is a closed ballot here in Colorado, but I would have crossed over and voted for her,” the registered Democrat said.
He lamented that the Republican Party no longer had “McCains out there” before adding that he had not voted for the late senator in his run against Barack Obama in 2008.
Unsurprisingly, he was clear he could not see himself voting for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who will be switching to the Fourth District from the Third District in her upcoming June primary. Castle Rock is in the Fourth District.
“I think she’s awful,” he said.
Kristy Chadwick, who voted for President Trump, was more positive about the prospect of supporting the newcomer to the district.
“I need to maybe look a little bit deeper, but I would if she’s Republican and conservative and shares my views,” she said.
When she learned Ms. Boebert received an endorsement from President Trump, she said, “That probably seals it.”
The grandmother of 11 told The Epoch Times she was sad to see Colorado trend toward Democrats and away from Republicans.
“I hope it turns back,” she said.
Utah Republicans Watching, Waiting to Caucus Tonight
Utah Republicans are watching voters cast ballots in primaries across 14 states as they wait their turn to participate in the Super Tuesday GOP presidential preference poll tonight.More than 100,000 registered Republican voters are expected to gather at about 2,500 caucus sites beginning at 7 p.m. RMT tonight to cast ballots for either former President Donald Trump or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Utah Republican Party Chairman Robert Axson told The Epoch Times.
“I think it’s gonna be a very good night for the Republican Party of Utah with very strong support, a lot of participation, and turnout,” he said.
“And I also think it’s going to be a strong night for the candidates, both our state candidates who are relying on delegates to be elected but also these two presidential candidates that still exist in the race.”
Precinct-based caucus sites open at 6 p.m., and voting starts at 7 p.m. The first set of votes will select delegates for the April 27 state GOP convention. Of about 4,000 delegate candidates, 40 ultimately will be selected to attend July’s National Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The final votes will be the presidential nomination. Caucuses cannot conclude their presidential preference polls before 8 p.m.
In the days prior to today’s caucuses, few gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislature candidates actively campaigned, pausing to await the selection of delegates in tonight’s votes.
As soon as Super Tuesday is in the books, the day after—Dash Wednesday—begins the sprint to Utah’s June 25 general primary with campaigns set to immediately gear-up and hit the stump trail.
“That’s true. Absolutely, in the days after” the presidential caucus, Mr. Axson said, noting beginning March 6, candidates will have “a better idea of, at least, where the delegates are looking at going and how that could affect some of the state races.”
For state lawmakers running in 2024 elections, a Utah statute prevents them from fundraising while in session. The state Legislature concluded its 45-day 2024 session on March 2, allowing state lawmakers to make up for lost time and money over the weekend in private events with donors before gearing up campaigns by the end of this week.
“We’re off, hustling along because time is limited,” state Sen. Mike Kennedy, a Republican, who is running for Congress, told The Epoch Times on March 3. “And so, it’s fundraising and delegate calls and meetings and visits” before Super Tuesday.
But beginning Dash Wednesday, he said, “We'll be on the campaign trail all the time.”
Utah Democrats are also caucusing tonight after participating in a day-long state-run primary. There are less than 300,000 registered Democrats and nearly 1 million GOP voters in deep-red Utah.
Media Set Up for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Event Tonight
MAR-A-LAGO, Fla.–Just after 1 p.m. Eastern, event organizers escorted dozens of credentialed news crews into the Grand Ballroom where former President Donald Trump will take the stage this evening at a “watch party” for the Super Tuesday election results.Videographers and reporters from as far away as Japan assembled on platforms at the rear of the room, while writers and photographers set up laptops behind them. Some told The Epoch Times that they came from Japan; others were broadcasting in Spanish to report on the Republican frontrunner for the presidential nomination.
Some media also said they had been shut out of previous “watch parties” that were held in other states that have already held their presidential preference contests earlier this year.
When the program begins later today, about 300 people will be seated in rows of golden chairs set up near the stage; a small section of about a half-dozen chairs in the front row was cordoned off with a red velvet rope, apparently reserved for President Trump’s family or other special guests.
Another area to the left of the stage is sectioned off with patriotic bunting to accommodate people who will be standing. A separate section behind the golden chairs is set with 10 round cocktail tables, draped with white tablecloths.
The Grand Ballroom is reserved for special occasions only, the former president said at a recent speech here.
Florida voters are not heading to the polls today; instead, they will cast ballots on March 19. So it’s unclear why the campaign has not stated why the former president chose Mar-a-Lago as the watch party site.
Regardless of the reason, it is the most convenient for President Trump since he makes his home here.
Sen. Sinema Not Seeking Reelection in Arizona
Arizona’s independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced on March 5 that she would not seek another term, throwing Democrats’ narrow majority in the Senate into further uncertainty.Ms. Sinema, 47, was elected to the Senate in 2018 as a Democrat. Although she left the party in December 2022, she continues to caucus with the Democrats, gifting them their slim 51-49 vote advantage.
Still, Ms. Sinema’s willingness to vote with Republicans on certain issues has often put her at odds with Democrats.
“Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year,” she said.
Candidates vying for Ms. Sinema’s seat include Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, who ran for governor in 2022.
In her response, Ms. Lake said Mr. Gallego is the candidate with radical views.
“Ruben Gallego would be a radical departure from the representation we have had in Arizona,” she said. “He votes with Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, supported the Iran Deal, sanctuary cities, defunding the police, and voting rights for everyone pouring across the border. He even called the border wall ‘stupid.’
“Arizonans will not be fooled by Gallego. I will be a voice for all Arizonans,” she added, wishing Ms. Sinema “the best in her next chapter.”
Trump Supporter: Richmond Rally Was ‘Really Energizing’
LOVETTSVILLE, Va.—Amelia P. and Heather W. have been campaigning for former President Donald Trump in multiple locations in Loudoun County on March 5. One of their stops was at a polling station at Lovettsville Elementary School.
“I want to remind all our like-minded friends that they’ve got to get out and show strong support for Trump and that they are in good company. We’re all rooting for him,” Heather told The Epoch Times.
Amelia attended President Trump’s rally in Richmond on March 2. The event was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from this part of Loudoun County. She said the rally was “excellent.”
“The room was completely packed; the enthusiasm was high. He gave a great speech, and I think was really energizing to supporters,” Amelia said, adding that the economy and the border issues in President Trump’s speech resonated the most.
Oklahoma Couple Sees Trump as Country’s Only Hope
“This country’s in a mess, and he’s the only one I think can do anything about it.”
The couple, who are in their early 70s, said they believe former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is staying in the race in case President Trump is disqualified for some reason.
“It’s all ‘Trumped’ up charges,” Mr. Compton quipped.
Mr. Compton said he will vote Republican regardless.
Haley Supporter: I Don’t See a Path Forward, But I’ll Try to Do My Part
LOVETTSVILLE, Va.—Rex Shipley voted for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican primary today.
“I don’t like either of the other two candidates. I haven’t seen a lot of good performance at either one of them,” Mr. Shipley told The Epoch Times, referring to the presumptive nominee on both sides: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. “So I think we need someone new in office.”
Mr. Shipley knows that Ms. Haley’s campaign is dwindling down, but still, he said: “I don’t see a path forward. But I’m gonna try to do my part.”
He asserted that if President Trump became the Republican nominee, he would vote for President Biden in the general election. He said he’s a registered Republican but votes independently.
He thinks that Ms. Haley and President Trump have similar policies but said they would have different approaches and styles. “I’m not one that believes the president should skirt the law in any form,” he added, referring to President Trump’s legal battles.
California Voter Says Veterans Need Support
MERCED, Calif.–National security issues are top of mind for many voters in California, with one veteran telling The Epoch Times that more needs to be done to help those that serve to protect the nation.
“We need to take care of our veterans,” said Lynda Gates, 62, of Los Baños, California.
“We need to feel safe, and our veterans need to feel good about what they’re doing.”
Biden Supporter: ‘He’s Doing a Good Job’
LOVETTSVILLE, Va.--Julie McClanahan, 65, a retired Loudoun County employee, voted for President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary today.
“I think he’s doing a good job. I think anything but Trump at this point,” she told The Epoch Times. “I’m tired of the old age thing, and I’m young myself. It’s like, ‘I don’t know what they’re trying to do.’”
“Joe Biden’s done a good job considering what he was handed,” she added, listing President Biden’s infrastructure investment in the Inflation Reduction Act and position on abortion as the main reason for her endorsement.
“He’s a steady hand right now. I think we need that.”
Migrant Crisis, Cost of Living in Maine Open Up a Blue State to Trump’s Appeal
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine–Former President Donald Trump’s prospects in Maine are better than they have been in years, even though the Portland region and other parts of the state remain solidly blue, says Marcayla Amadei, a local political consultant and organizer.Ms. Amadei and her friends have no illusions about President Trump winning a metropolitan region that went decisively for Democrats in the last two presidential contests. But in other parts of the state, frustration, rage, and hopelessness over the border crisis and the cost of living have fueled a groundswell in the former president’s favor, she said.
“I would think that, for South Portland specifically, the vote is almost sunk completely. I don’t like to be a Debbie Downer, but I’ve always lived there, and I feel like we’re able to make up more ground in surrounding communities, further from the coast,” Ms. Amadei told The Epoch Times
“There has been a ton of response of independents and Democrats across the state saying they’re going to vote Republican, at least at the Senate level. But we’ve also had some luck with voters planning to vote at the presidential level,” she said.
In the end, arguments over bathrooms and the composition of sports teams are not really germane to the issues on the minds of Super Tuesday voters, Ms. Amadei said.
“We all have different views on culture war issues, but at the end of the day, we’re all rolling our eyes and getting frustrated at the gas pump. One bag of groceries costs $60 these days. Young people, and I’m 27, can’t even find affordable studio apartments. They’re building apartments for migrants, but we feel we’re getting spit in the face.
“A lot of my friends aren’t very political, but we feel like we’re on the train and it’s moving, yet the light at the end of the tunnel keeps moving back. It’s hard to feel like we’re going to settle down and have kids in this situation,” Ms. Amadei said.
Turnout for Republican candidates is likely to be higher this year than in the past, partly in reaction to issues that have thrust a state long thought of as a quiet hinterland into the center of national controversies.
“2016 was my first election. When you grow up in Maine, it’s very sheltering here, and now we’ve been in the news cycle more in the last few months than I’ve ever seen, with the Lewiston mass shooting and trying to keep Trump off the ballot. I don’t deal with the migrant issue as much, but from 2016 to now, there’s been such an influx, there’s such a strong focus in the state,” she said.
Ms. Amadei said she spent last summer in Kansas City and marveled at efforts there to build new homes and schools. In Maine, heroic efforts are underway to accommodate migrants from the southern border while the concerns of longtime residents go ignored.
“Another really big thing about Maine, when it comes to the migrant conversation, is that we have an aging workforce; we have such an old population, we need to replace our workforce. But the politicians, they’re not trying to keep young people, and we can find cheaper housing out of state. My friends who are not political at all, they’re just feeling frustrated, like we’re being ignored,” Ms. Amadei said.
“That’s the big thing with the migrant issue. There’s such a big focus on it, with all the virtue signaling, and we just want our government to say it wants us to stay in the state.”
California Voter Wants to See Change
MERCED, Calif.–Primary voters are trickling into the fairgrounds in Merced, California, with one local resident telling The Epoch Times that inflation is one of the main reasons he came to vote.
“We need change,” said Joaquin Fernandez, 52, a realtor in Merced.
“This current government is just printing money and making everything expensive, and that is just going to damage the economy.”
He said the issues stem from local and federal policies.
“The school system is really bad,” Mr. Fernandez said. “And nobody wants to work … because they can make more on unemployment.”
A Small Showing at Voting Location in North Carolina
GREENSBORO, N.C.–A Greensboro senior center has gotten at least 110 voters in the primary, according to poll workers.The GOP primary in what is the state’s Sixth Congressional District is competitive and includes a handful of candidates such as former Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) and former football player Bo Hines, who lost a congressional race in 2022.
America Needs to Return to Kinder Brand of Politics
Dallas, Texas—Alex Martinez of Dallas voted for President Joe Biden in the Democrat primary in Texas on Super Tuesday, but he lamented the polarization of politics.
He said the lack of tolerance for different viewpoints needs to improve, and it’s up to “those at the top” to change the dynamic and tone down the rhetoric in politics.
Mr. Martinez said that when leaders are silent about factions who disrupt and malign their opponents, that sends the wrong message.
Besides President Biden, Mr. Martinez said he voted for Roland Gutierrez as the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate to challenge Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.
Mr. Martinez said he met Mr. Gutierrez, a Texas senator, and voted for him instead of Congressman Colin Allred, the leading Democrat in the race, who represents parts of Dallas.
While their position on the issues is similar, Mr. Martinez said he met Mr. Gutierrez in person and feels he is more personable than Mr. Allred, who is the frontrunner.
Ballot Drop-Offs and Prairie Dogs in Lakewood, Colorado
In the hills west of Denver, a lone prairie dog was making an alarm call to his unseen peers. After a minute or two, he dipped back into his burrow—one of many in a large colony at Red Rocks Community College on Super Tuesday.
Another group of social creatures—human beings—were engaged in their own solitary-yet-social activity in a nearby parking lot.
Every few minutes, locals drove up to a ballot drop box to vote. It was much more active than inside the polling place.
Curtis, the supervisor of the Red Rocks Voter Service and Polling Center, told The Epoch Times there had been just a handful of voters inside compared to the flurry of activity so far.
“Most of the people we see come in because their ballot was spoiled or it wasn’t forwarded because they have a P.O. box or they’ve moved—and then other people, it’s first time voting, so they come in and register to vote,” he said.
Jon Shay dropped off his ballot in the parking lot. He told The Epoch Times he voted for Nikki Haley.
“I really don’t feel comfortable with another Trump presidency,” he said, adding that he had previously voted for Bush, McCain, and Romney.
Mr. Shay, a real estate investor, said that the market was worse now than a few years ago, which he attributed to interest rates. He was wary of chalking up economic conditions to any specific politician or party.
“It’s a pretty complex issue,” he said.
Shea VanKeuren, a stay-at-home mother, dropped off her ballot while walking her dog, Saba.
“She has to vote too!” Ms. VanKeuren joked about her dog.
Ms. VanKeuren, who wouldn’t share who she voted for, said women’s rights were among her top priorities.
“I have two young daughters that I want to ensure when they get to an age to make the choices about their body, they get to make those choices for themselves and not have other people tell them what to do,” she told The Epoch Times.
Another voter who was wary of sharing his choice, Dustin Pfaff, 36, dropped off his ballot inside.
Mr. Pfaff, a former land surveyor who is now a student at the community college, told The Epoch Times that he is most concerned about “the divide that we see in our country.”
“We just need to approach things politically together instead of dividing,” he said.
A Look at the Primary Ballots in Colorado
Haley Not the Right Choice for Republican Party, Says Candidate for Maine Legislature
CUMBERLAND, Maine—Nikki Haley lacks broad appeal within the Republican Party, not to mention Donald J. Trump’s strengths as a unifier and, where necessary, a tough political brawler who is not afraid to offend received opinions and get things done.That’s the view of Scott Jordan, a salesman and District 110 candidate for the Maine state legislature, which includes his town, Cumberland, a part of the blue-leaning Portland metropolitan area. The District 110 incumbent Jordan hopes to unseat is a Democrat, Stephen Moriarty, and Republicans have rarely held the seat in the last two decades, Mr. Jordan lamented.
The Trump-Haley contest has implications for Republican unity in his state and district, Mr. Jordan believes. Mr. Jordan does not believe that Ms. Haley has adopted the right tone or struck the right note in a party too riven by infighting to push back effectively against the far-left agenda that some Democrats espouse.
“Personally, I voted for Donald Trump over Nikki Haley. When Donald Trump first appointed her, and, absolutely, right now in this race, I do not believe she’s the right choice. When I saw her interviews after the New Hampshire primary, and how she drew ‘first blood’ with Donald Trump, I just thought it wasn’t a good look for her, and she isn’t the right for the party right now,” Mr. Jordan told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Jordan described President Trump’s frequent dalliance with controversy as a blessing, though not an unmixed one at election time. His political acumen and outspokenness make him effective at a time when voters are crying out for solutions to the border crisis and other issues.
“Donald Trump has a lot going on, but he’s willing to take on these fights where I don’t think other folks could handle what he’s going through. I’m running for the legislature for House district number 110 here in Maine, and there are a lot of folks concerned with where the country is right now. A number of folks, myself included, feel like there’s a lot of infighting within our party, and if we could set aside egos and focus on other problems and constituents, we would be a lot better off today,” Mr. Jordan said.
“The Democratic Party, they’re learning our clocks. We could make a difference, we could beat them in a lot of these races if people put aside their egos and find middle ground where the pendulum has swung so far left,” he added.
A Vote for Nikki Haley is a Vote Against Donald Trump
DALLAS, Texas-—Voters stood in line to cast a ballot at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, one of the busiest polling locations in the city.Shannon McKinnon of Dallas is a registered Republican but often votes Democratic.
Today he came out to vote for Nikki Haley “to get out Trump.”
Even if the former United Nations ambassador doesn’t win Super Tuesday in Texas or elsewhere, Mr. McKinnon wants her to stay in the race.
“I think this time around, I’m a never Trumper,” he said. “He’s a horrible human being.”
Mr. McKinnon was equally unimpressed with President Trump’s policies, even popular ones such as securing the U.S. southern border.
He said Trump got nowhere near finishing the wall and Mexico didn’t pay for it.
Age isn’t a factor when it comes to President Joe Biden’s ability to serve in the White House, he said.
That’s because those who work with the current president say his cognitive abilities are fine, which is good enough for Mr. McKinnon.
Mail-in Voting Affects California In-Person Turnout
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Turnout here has been affected by mail-in and early voting according to poll workers at Faith Temple Church, which houses four precincts in California’s 22nd Congressional District.
Each California voter received a ballot by mail for the first time this year.
Workers reported serving six voters during the first two hours of in-person voting. Polls will remain open until 8 p.m.
California Voter Says Border, National Security is Key Issue
MODESTO, Calif.–Samuel White Ephriam, legal redress for the NAACP, of Modesto, California told The Epoch Times that politicians need to focus on policies that benefit and protect the country.
“The everyday citizens want answers. We don’t want a mouthful of nothing … and that’s what people are giving nowadays. We want substance and something that is real for the citizens.”
As a veteran, he said national security should be a priority.
“We need to talk about the security of our nation and our borders. That is a hotbed issue, and at the same time, we have to be concerned about who our allies are.”
South Alabama Voter Questions Loyalty of Congressmen
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Steve Bitowf, 68, of Spanish Fort, Alabama, voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) but said he’s frustrated with the redistricting in southern Alabama as well as the distance between his elected officials in Washington and the regular people back home.
“I would like to see it go back to the way it originally was, you go [to Washington] for the legislative session then you come back and live like normal people,” Mr. Bitowf told The Epoch Times.
If candidates are willing to raise and spend millions of dollars to be elected, Mr. Bitowf implied they will be more loyal to their donors than their districts.
“Who are they going to listen to? Are they going to listen to me, or are they going to listen to wherever the money comes from? It’s very frustrating,” Mr. Bitowf said.
Meta Platforms Affected by Widespread Outages
Social media users received a shock on March 5 as several of Meta’s platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads—experienced widespread outages.According to internet traffic observer Down Detector, the outages were first reported just after 10 a.m. ET and remained unresolved nearly two hours later. The problems were reported in various countries, suggesting that the problem could be global.
Many social media users noted the suspect timing of the outages given the Super Tuesday elections taking place in more than a dozen states.
“I’m no conspiracy theorist, but it’s very odd that on Super Tuesday, aka an important election day, that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram are both down,” wrote comedian Tim Young on X.
Candidates often use social media to communicate important election information and resources to voters as they head to the polls. London-based internet monitoring firm Netblocks reported that the outages were “not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering,” which are usually imposed by governments.
“We’re aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now,” wrote Andy Stone, Meta’s head of communications, in an X post.
Michelle Obama Won’t Run For President in 2024, Office Says
While former President Barack Obama has endorsed President Joe Biden’s re-election, some have raised questions regarding former First Lady Michelle Obama’s potential role in the 2024 election.Some Republicans have floated the theory that Ms. Obama might replace President Biden as the Democratic nominee, claiming the president is too old to run and that party insiders were looking for a backup plan before the November race.
However, the former first lady’s office just poured cold water on the notion of her becoming the Democratic nominee.
“As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” said Crystal Carson, director of communications for Mrs. Obama’s office.
“Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign,” she added.
Instead, she plans to assist President Biden with his campaign this fall, like she did in 2020. However, her role might be smaller than Mr. Obama’s, who will likely stump for his former vice president.
President Biden’s campaign confirmed the former president and former first lady’s upcoming roles later this year.
“President and Michelle Obama were enormously helpful in the fight to beat Donald Trump and elect President Biden and Vice President Harris the first time and we are grateful to have their voice and their support in the fight for the fate of our democracy this November,” President Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a statement.
Franklin Voter Chooses Trump, Says Haley ‘Has No Chance’
FRANKLIN, Tenn.—Chris Russo spoke with The Epoch Times after casting his primary vote alongside his wife, Diana, and made it clear that he was all-in on former President Donald Trump.
“He seems to be the only politician who can stick to his word,” he said. “He does what he says he’s going to do.”
The biggest concerns he sees facing America include illegal immigration, the devaluation of currency, social security and health care, and stopping endless wars.
Mr. Russo also told The Epoch Times that he could see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an interesting choice for President Trump’s vice president pick due to his unique ideas on how to fix other domestic problems like those involving vaccines and “the poison they put in our food.”
However, that interest is not enough to dissuade him from supporting President Trump in November.
“I don’t know if he’s 100 percent trustworthy,” he said of RFK Jr. “I tend to stay away from kind of those legacy candidates [like] the Bushes, the Clintons, the Kennedys.”
Nikki Haley, on the other hand, has no chance, according to Mr. Russo.
“That woman has no chance,” he said. “I mean, she’s in it to sabotage the election. Obviously, she’s hoping that the Supreme Court would kick Trump off the ballot. That didn’t happen at this point. Now, like, I don’t know what the point of her being in it is.”
He also rejected the idea she had a chance in 2028.
“She’s completely sabotaged herself and shown her true colors,” he said. “I mean, most of her campaign money came from Democrats. So I can’t imagine her ever getting the support of the Republicans again.”
The Russos cast their ballots at one of the 20 Williamson County schools turned into precincts today. Due to predictions of heavy turnouts, the county got permission from the Tennessee Department of Education to use an “inclement weather day” and give kids the day off.
Corresponding With Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Richard Mykitta, 64, of Spanish Fort voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) because while he doesn’t know him, he’s emailed him frequently.
Mr. Mykitta told The Epoch Times that he’s been in touch with the congressman for more than a year digitally.
“I’m not going to tell you I agree with everything he says, but he does respond,” Mr. Mykitta said.
Compared with Mr. Carl’s rival for the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, Mr. Mykitta said he has no experience with Rep. Barry Moore.
“I don’t know him,” Mr. Moore said. “I don’t know who he really is.”
Illegal Immigration Main Issue for Trump Supporter
ATOKA, Okla.‐—Ronnie Henderson, of Atoka, Oklahoma, said he voted for former President Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for one reason.
“We’ve got to get that border secured and I don’t think the female is capable of handling the job,” Mr. Henderson told The Epoch Times.
Working Maine Voters Favor Trump Over Haley
TOPSHAM, Maine—Among blue-collar Maine residents, including union members and ironworks employees, support for Donald J. Trump runs high and there is a shared sense that Nikki Haley is running a political campaign more in touch with powerful and wealthy donors than with people concerned about energy costs and parental choice in education.That’s the view of Allen Sarvinas, a 41-year-old employee of Bath Iron Works who lives in the southeastern town of Topsham. Though the town is in the 1st Congressional District, which went for President Joe Biden in 2020, Mr. Sarvinas believes that President Trump represents the interests of blue-collar workers there.
“My experience working on the ground with Republicans, especially on the front lines with parents trying to organize so their voices are heard, Trump has much more support on the ground, and among the unions, especially the local 6, a large union down at Bath Iron Works,” Mr. Sarvinas told The Epoch Times.
“Trump has done things with regard to affordable energy, and there’s growing support. Haley’s support is more with an older generation of the Republican Party that’s not adapting very well to the changing demographics in the party.”
Supporting ‘Local Boy’ Vince Fong for CD-20
Voter in California Says Country Needs Trump’s Leadership
Texas Town Voter Turnout is Up
Rockwall, Texas—This traditionally conservative suburb of Dallas saw a higher-than-expected early voter turnout. Local voters have come out for former President Donald Trump in past elections.
Election Worker: ‘This Is My Way of Serving My Country’
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Elections often mean long hours for election workers and volunteers before and after Election Day itself.Lisa O'Neill, chief of the precinct voting at Loudoun County’s Mountain View Elementary School, arrived on-site at 4:30 a.m. on March 5. The team arrived at 5 a.m. to set up the polling station for the 6 a.m. open. Polls close at 7 p.m.
“The reason I like to do elections is because I’ve never served in the military. And it is my way of serving my country in another way,” Ms. O’Neill, who works at the Loudoun County Public Schools system, told The Epoch Times.
This year is the fifth year Jennifer Boner, 51, a homemaker, has been working with the county’s election office.
“I have time to do it. And I think that the people who have time to do it are the ones who need to step up and do your civic duty to be here,” she told The Epoch Times.
“We need people to run free and fair elections. If we don’t have people stepping up to do it, then we don’t have free and fair elections.”
Biden Voter Fears Possible Trump Return, But Also Frustrated With Admin
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—When asked why she was voting for President Joe Biden in the Democratic Primary in Central Arkansas, Nedra French was clear, her support was because she did want former President Donald Trump back in office.
Ms. French cited President Trump’s ongoing litigation, as well as his “starting a riot and getting all those folks hurt” as some of her motivations for supporting President Biden.
She didn’t hold back with her frustration with President Biden, however, saying that his administration is taking “care of people in another country more than they do our people.”
She mentioned specifically the homeless population in the United States and funding going overseas: “They spend all this money over there for these folks in Gaza and this war. What do they do for our people?”
Ms. French said that she thinks well of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and would vote for him if he were the nominee, “Because his father was a good man.”
Light Turnout for In-Person Voting in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Voter turnout was light about an hour after polls opened at OC Actis Junior High School, which serves as a polling place for eight precincts in California’s 20th congressional district.
Poll workers told The Epoch Times that in-person turnout was not a concern as many Californians vote by mail or at one of the 19 ballot dropboxes in Kern County.
Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong leads the polling in this solidly Republican district, which had been served by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Elementary School Gets Steady Flow of Voters
GREENSBORO. N.C.— Franklin Pierce Elementary School experienced a good flow of voters on March 5. When polls opened at 6:30 a.m. ET, there were 10 people waiting in line, according to the judge at the polling place.One voter, Dee, told The Epoch Times she is voting for Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, for governor, saying that she “like[s] his principles, the things he has put forward.” She did not specify those attributes and declined to say what she thinks the biggest issues are facing North Carolinians.
Another voter, Sue, said she is voting for former President Donald Trump, citing his tough stance on immigration, which she said is her top issue in the election due to there being “too many” illegal immigrants entering the United States. Illegal immigration is also why she is voting for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, for governor.
Voters cast their ballot at Franklin Pierce Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Jackson Richman/The Epoch Times.
A third voter, Brent Holmes, voted for President Trump, citing his economic and immigration policies—those issues being of primary importance to Mr. Holmes.
He has “confidence he could get us go[ing] in the right direction,” Mr. Holmes said he also voted for Mr. Robinson for governor, noting his staunch support for the former president and that he is “very faith-based, very Christian-oriented.”
Trump Supporter Says America Needs Someone Who Loves the Country
JACKSONVILLE Ark.—Local resident Beatrice Lechner pulled a walker out of the back of her vehicle and told The Epoch Times that she was there to vote for President Donald Trump, even though one of her feet was completely numb.
Ms. Lechner leaned on her walker and said that voting for President Trump needed to be done because “[President Joe] Biden has done such a lousy job with the economy and the border.
“We need somebody that’s gonna love America, and I don’t think Mr. Biden does.”
Ms. Lechner said that while she likes Ms. Haley she “doesn’t think she really has a chance,” and feels that because of Ms. Haley’s previous commitment to not “go against” President Trump, her recent attacks on the former president make her disingenuous.
Voters Frustrated With Current Policies
County-Wide System Disruption Causes Slight Voting Delay
MODESTO, Calif.–Voters are trickling in as polls open at 7 a.m. in California’s 13th District, with signs printed in English and Spanish directing voters to a polling location at the Stanislaus Veterans Center. A brief countywide system issue caused a slight delay, but officials corrected the matter within minutes and told The Epoch Times that a download problem was to blame.
Biden Voter Says President Needs to Do More on Border
SHOREVIEW, Minn.—Doug Gwost was an early voter who came out to show his support for President Joe Biden.
Mr. Gwost said he liked President Biden‘s policies but didn’t say what those policies were.
“Well, there’s some [policies] I don’t support. I think he has to do more about the border. And he’s probably going to be doing that between now and the election,” Mr. Gowst told the Epoch Times.
He said he prefers President Biden’s personality, “as opposed to his anticipated opponent who is all over the place.”
He did not have a strong opinion about the effort to get Democrats to give their vote to “uncommitted” instead of to President Biden, saying everybody has an opinion, and he indicated that the feedback from voters might be useful for the president to hear. Mr. Gwost was unconcerned about President Biden‘s age and cognitive ability.
“He’s only three years older than me and I’m not senile. I like Biden. I would like Biden even more at [age] 45,” Mr. Gwost said. “He’s going to be the candidate unless he drops out, and so I’m going to get behind him.”
Haley Supporter Says White House Needs a ‘Person of Action’
JACKSONVILLE Ark.—Larry K. Crafton strolled out of the Jacksonville First Baptist Church a little before 9:00 a.m. local time and said confidently that he voted for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican primary.
When asked if he felt that Ms. Haley had a shot at winning the election, he said, “Not really, but I don’t like the other two,” referring to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.
Mr. Crafton went on to say he thinks Ms. Haley might have a shot at the next presidential election, in 2028, but no matter what, for the next four years the White House needs a “strong personality” and a “person of action,” rather than “someone that just runs their mouth all the time.
“We need something good to happen in the United States instead of all negative.”
Should Ms. Haley not win the GOP nomination, Mr. Crafton said he is still “undecided” on who he will vote for in the general election in November.
Rain Batters Spanish Fort, Alabama, on Super Tuesday
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Alabamans residing in one of the state’s most populous counties are casting their votes in the 1st Congressional District race between Rep. Jerry Carl and Rep. Barry Moore.
Spanish Fort, Alabama, is located across Mobile Bay from Mobile, Alabama, and is located in Baldwin County. That county is entirely in the Yellowhammer State’s 1st Congressional District.
Baldwin County is the fourth most populous county in Alabama and one of two in the state that borders the Gulf of Mexico.
Light Turnout in Deep Red Oklahoma
DURANT. Okla.—Veteran poll workers in this Southeastern Oklahoma town say that the slow start portends a light turnout for this primary election.
Just 13 voters had cast their ballots in The First Baptist Church by 8:30 a.m. local time. The poll workers blamed a lack of publicity, voter apathy, and the impression that Oklahoma is so deeply red the outcome Is a given.
Pat Metheny, poll inspector attributed the problem to something that has plagued elections for years.
“People aren’t paying attention,” she said.
Elementary Students Fundraise For Field Trip Outside Polling Station
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Students of Mountain View Elementary School in Loudoun County are offering coffee and bakery items to raise funds for a fifth-grader field trip. Today’s target customers are the voters from the neighborhood. The school is one of the polling stations.
“I want to go to King’s Dominion,” one girl told The Epoch Times, referring to the famous amusement park in Virginia. Another girl said she was there just to help her older brother out.
They strategically put their tent outside the voter exit, and the girls carry badges with Venmo QR codes for the donors’ convenience.
A Reluctant Trump Voter in Arkansas
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—Local resident Ed Gilboe says that he doesn’t think any of the presidential candidates are “worthy,” but he planned to cast his ballot for former President Donald Trump.
The Air Force veteran said that while he doesn’t care for the way President Trump presents himself and holds him responsible for the events of Jan. 6, he still believes President Trump is a “better candidate than what we’ve got right now.”
Mr. Gilboe was clear that he would prefer to vote for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, but he doesn’t think that she “has enough behind her.”
Light Start in Minnesota
SHOREVIEW, Minn.— In Minnesota, the land of hot dish and 39 delegates, voting was light in the morning, traditionally the busiest voting time of the day. There are lots of cars in the parking lot at the Shoreview Community Center but most folks are here to work out in the pool or gym. Most did not stick around to vote. At this one location, there are three polling places for three different precincts.In the first hour, just 46 people voted in these three precincts combined.
Shoreview is in Ramsey County, a heavily Democratic metropolitan area in this blue state, which voted for President Joe Biden, 52.4 percent in 2020 compared to Trump who got 45.3 percent of the votes that year.
Minnesota has 10 electoral votes.
There are 10 options on the Democratic primary ballot here, including President Biden, Dean Phillips, who is from Minnesota, and “uncommitted,” which has become a movement across the country for Democrats, who wish to show their displeasure with the president, specifically in regards to his handling of Israel.
Mr. Phillips has laid off staff in recent weeks.
Trump Supporter: Trump Is ‘the Best Man, Hands Down’
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Donald Fraser, a 71-year-old retired U.S. naval officer, said he voted for former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary on Super Tuesday.“I think he’s the best man, by far, hands down, to help this country get back to the way it was designed by the founders,” Mr. Fraser told The Epoch Times.
“Our rights are given by God. The Constitution protects the rights; it doesn’t give us the rights. It protects the rights that we already have. And I believe that President Trump is the best leader, best President to explain that and to get us [back on track],” Mr. Fraser added.
“It’s making people’s eyes open and realize: we are the greatest country, we’ve always been the greatest country. That’s why we achieve so much.”
South Alabama Voters Weigh In on CD-1 GOP Primary Battle
Al Deane, 57, cast his ballot in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, and lives in the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. He told The Epoch Times he was supporting Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) in his primary contest against Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) He said Mr. Carl helps out the constituents of his district.
“I think he’s done a good job.” Mr. Deane said in an interview. “I don’t really know a lot about Barry Moore, but I know Jerry Carl. I know who he is, and so he’s going to get my vote.”
Flora Crawford, 81, voted in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, and resides in the state’s 1st Congressional District. She voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) over his challenger Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.)
“He just seems like an all-around guy,” Ms. Crawford said. “He does his job (and) gets everything done.”
Raven Williams, 80, and Joe Williams, 81, were moved from Alabama’s 1st Congressional District into its 2nd Congressional District when the state redrew its maps in October. The pair, who voted in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, said they found the slate of eight candidates running for the House in the 2nd district confusing. Ms. Williams said she voted for Greg Albritton.
Cool Start as Arkansas Primary Opens
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—Super Tuesday opened gloomy and cool in Central Arkansas. Local residents filtered into a First Baptist Church in Jacksonville throughout the morning, passing signs for local candidates, and a few campaigners near the street.Arkansas, a primarily “red state” is choosing state and local officials, as well as their choice for presidential nominee, and in Congressional District 3 one hotly contested House seat is up for debate.
Incumbent Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is fending off a challenge from state Sen. Clint Penzo (R) to head to the general election in November and face Democrat Caitlin Draper in the general election.
What Super Tuesday Means for Trump, Haley
Former President Donald Trump is in a dominant position heading into Super Tuesday.With 273 delegates, he holds a substantial lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. And with a clean sweep of March 5’s voting states, he could clinch the Republican Party’s nomination for president as soon as March 12.
For Ms. Haley, with just one victory and 43 delegates under her belt, the path ahead is less certain. But she’s not letting that stop her from plowing ahead.
But even if she does drop out, Ms. Haley said she did not feel bound by the pledge she made to the Republican National Committee (RNC) to back the party’s eventual nominee.
With RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stepping down, she said, “The RNC now is not the same RNC. Now it’s Trump’s daughter-in-law.”
President Trump has backed Lara Trump, the wife of his son Eric, for RNC co-chair, though new leadership has yet to be elected.
If Ms. Haley were to withhold her support from President Trump heading into the general election, it could further damage her reputation with his supporters, who now make up a sizable majority of the party. And in that situation, her political future could reach a dead end.
But the future, she said, is not something she’s thinking about right now.
“I don’t look too far ahead. I look at, what do the American people want? If 70 percent of Americans say they don’t want Donald Trump or Joe Biden, that’s not a small number.
“If 30 to 40 percent of all these early states have said they want to vote for the direction of where we want to take the country, that’s not a small number. And so that’s why we continue to push forward.”
Majority of Americans Believe Economy Worse Now Than Before Biden’s Presidency: Poll
As the Super Tuesday contests begin on March 5 for both Republicans and Democrats, President Joe Biden faces voters who see an economy worse now than before he entered the White House in 2021.A new poll from AP-NORC shows that a majority of Americans—57 percent—believe that the nation’s economy is “much worse” or “somewhat worse” now than before the start of President Biden’s term.
Fifty-five percent of Americans are also worried that the country as a whole is much or somewhat worse now than before 2021.
President Biden also faces uncertainty over voters’ impression of his mental acuity.
Sixty-three percent of Americans said they are “not very” or “not at all” confident in his mental capability to serve effectively as president. Fifty-seven percent of Americans said the same thing about former President Donald Trump.
‘Uncommitted’ Democrat Protest Spreads
The “uncommitted” campaign that deprived President Joe Biden of two Democrat delegates in Michigan has now spread to multiple Super Tuesday states.Led by progressive and Muslim voters, the pro-Palestinian protest aims to pressure the president into calling for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
President Biden easily won Michigan’s Democrat primary on Feb. 27, garnering more than 623,000 votes and 115 delegates. But that victory was overshadowed by the 101,000 Democrat primary voters who cast their ballots for “uncommitted” in protest against his support for Israel.
The results shocked organizers, who had set the bar low at 10,000 votes. Now, they’re calling on voters in Super Tuesday states to keep the movement going.
In Minnesota, Democrat primary ballots will feature an “uncommitted” option. And in North Carolina and Colorado, voters are being urged to cast their ballots for “no preference” or “noncommitted delegate,” respectively.
While the protest votes are not expected to alter President Biden’s path to the Democrat nomination, they will offer insight into his popularity—and electability—in those states.
Tennessee Primary Opens with Rainy Day in Nashville
VANDERBILT, Tenn.—Nashville residents awoke Super Tuesday to a gray rainy scene that is likely to stick around the whole day.
The National Weather Service predicts the music city to get more than half-an-inch of rain throughout the day, with showers throughout the day and thunderstorms expected before noon.
Polling stations across Davidson County, Tennessee, opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. It is unclear what kind of effect the weather might have on voter turnout.
Tennessee’s only participating in a presidential primary election today, and its Republican voters are deciding upon delegates who will appear at the Republican National Convention. There are 58 up for grabs.
A state primary will be held on Aug. 1.
Virginia College Student Rejects Biden to Send a Message to DNC
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Matthew Castro, 20, a Virginia Tech student majoring in international relations, is back home in northern Virginia’s Loudoun County during spring break. He said he voted for Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) in the Democrat primary.He said he knew President Joe Biden would win the Democrat nomination but voted for Mr. Phillips to send out a message to the DNC. Unlike in Michigan, Virginia voters don’t have an option to vote “uncommitted.”
“It’s unacceptable to run a candidate who isn’t going to call for ceasefire or for a more permanent solution for Palestine,” Mr. Castro told The Epoch Times.
He added that he didn’t pick Marianne Williamson, the third candidate on the Democrat ballot, because of her lack of government experience.
Voting Begins in South Alabama
TILLMAN’S CORNER, Ala.—Voters are casting their ballots for the first time in a newly redrawn 1st Congressional District and 2nd Congressional District in Southern Alabama on March 5.Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, southwest of Mobile, Alabama, straddles both the new 1st District and new 2nd District. Alabamans casting their ballots here will consider a slew of local issues, along with the state’s presidential primary and its statewide primary election for a member of the House.
In the 1st District, Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) and Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) are running against each other to represent the Republican Party in a highly red voting area.
In the 2nd District, about 20 total candidates are vying to represent either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party in the eventual November contest. A run-off scenario is likely in the 2nd District.
Down-Ballot Races to Watch Today
The presidential race will not be the only election of national consequence dotting ballots on Super Tuesday.Several states will also hold primaries for their House and Senate races, and with the current majorities in both chambers hanging by a thread, pundits will be watching closely to see how those primaries play out.
Specifically, Republicans are looking to flip the seats of Democratic Reps. Josh Harder and Mike Levin, as well as the open seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for Senate. Democrats, however, think they have a good chance of retaining Ms. Porter’s seat while pulling off upsets in the districts of Republican Reps. Kevin Kiley, John Duarte, David Valadao, Mike Garcia, Young Kim, Ken Calvert, and Michelle Steele.
Ms. Porter is just one of three prominent House Democrats vying for the open Senate seat left by the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee are also jockeying for the role, as is Republican baseball legend Steve Garvey. The two candidates who receive the most votes—regardless of party—will advance to the general election in November.
Elsewhere in the state, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, facing multiple primary challengers, will need to receive a majority of the votes to avoid a runoff. And Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, having just lost the Houston mayoral election in December, is also fending off a challenge from former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards.
When and Where to Expect Results
Fifteen states and one U.S. territory will hold presidential primary contests on Super Tuesday.Those voting will include residents of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as the territory of American Samoa.
In Iowa, Democrats will learn the results of their unprecedented vote-by-mail caucus.
Here’s when the results will start pouring in:
6 p.m. ET: Democratic results expected in Iowa.
7 p.m. ET: Polls close in Vermont and Virginia. Republican caucuses convene in Alaska.
7:30 p.m. ET: Polls close in North Carolina.
8 p.m. ET: Polls close in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Most polls close in Texas.
8:30 p.m. ET: Polls close in Arkansas.
9 p.m. ET: Polls close in Colorado and Minnesota. Last polls close in Texas. Republican caucuses convene in Utah.
10 p.m. ET: Polls close in Utah (Democrats only).
11 p.m. ET: Polls close in California. Voting is expected to end in Utah (Republicans only).
Midnight ET: Voting ends in Alaska (Republicans only).
Key Takeaways From Yesterday’s Supreme Court Trump Ballot Ruling
The Supreme Court issued a landmark, unanimous decision on March 4 clarifying that states don’t have authority under the 14th Amendment to disqualify candidates for federal office.Instead, that power rests squarely with Congress.
The decision also nullified rulings that former President Donald Trump was disqualified in Maine and Illinois and removed the disqualification option from state judges, whose decisions could have been used to justify similar moves in other states.
Going forward, the electoral map is less likely to be the messy “patchwork” that some suggested it would be with state-by-state ballot disqualifications. If Congress somehow passes legislation according to the Court’s guidelines, it could create a system whereby the federal government could challenge President Trump’s and others’ candidacies.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Brien suggested to The Epoch Times that the court was “sketchy” or unclear in how it outlined future congressional action.
“Why does it have to be our Congress, which is partly controlled by one party at a time when that party has put forward a presidential candidate who arguably is an insurrectionist? That’s the real problem … it seems to be favoring Trump in a way that was unnecessary,” he said.
The polarized political environment in Congress substantially lessens the possibility that it will pass anything disqualification-related legislation for President Joe Biden to sign before he leaves office.
The Supreme Court’s ruling left a lot on the table, including whether it even applied to former presidents. In some ways, the court’s ruling was representative of the skepticism the justices exhibited during oral arguments.
Rep. Boebert Calls Colorado Ballot Disqualification ‘Interfering in an Election’ After SCOTUS Reversal
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) praised the U.S. Supreme Court for its unanimous March 4 ruling that reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s attempt to disqualify former President Donald Trump from its state ballot.
“This is justice for the disenfranchised voters across America,” Ms. Boebert said in a March 4 interview with The Epoch Times.
She emphasized the importance of giving voters the right to decide who is qualified for elected offices.
“In a democracy, you do have the choice to vote for your candidate of choice, and Democrats are the party wanting to remove candidates from our ballots,” Ms. Boebert said.
The congresswoman also noted the political shift in her home state of Colorado, which once flipped between Democrats and Republicans in presidential elections but is now seen as a “solid D” in the Cook Political Report electoral college analysis.
However, that does not mean there is no support for President Trump in the Centennial State.
“I am with the grassroots Coloradans just about every day, and there is tremendous support for President Trump,” Ms. Boebert said.
She also released a statement on the controversy surrounding her 18-year-old son, Tyler, who was recently arrested in connection with multiple alleged felonies.
“As an adult and father, Tyler will take responsibility for his actions and should be held accountable for poor decisions just like any other citizen,” Ms. Boebert said in her statement.
Turnout Expected to be High: NC Poll Worker
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Turnout at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is expected to be “pretty high,” a poll worker told The Epoch Times. The poll worker, whose name could not be given out per the instruction of the chief judge at the polling location, said it will be a repeat of 2020 with the presidents on the ballot in addition to the gubernatorial and attorney general races.
He said early voting was “trickling.” The district is Democrat.
Voting Begins Shortly in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— It is dark outside a polling place in the capital of North Carolina as Super Tuesday is here. What appeared to be poll workers put out a couple of signs outside the polling place at Southview Recreation Center, which is in a Democrat district.The biggest races in the Tar Heel State are for governor, attorney general, and Congress with the last one consisting of newly gerrymandered districts.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. ET.
Brenda White, a poll worker here, told The Epoch Times that turnout was low during early voting until the end. In average, they get about 100 voters at the location, she said.
Early Voting Turnout Low in Virginia
LEESBURG, Va.—While statewide data isn’t available yet, Loudoun County in northern Virginia has released its turnout of a 45-day early voting period: less than 4 percent. In comparison, the overall early voting for the statewide election last year was over 13 percent.In Loudoun County, which represents about 5 percent of all registered voters in Virginia, over 5,200 people have voted in the Republican primary. Virginia has an open primary, meaning registered voters of any party affiliation can vote in any primary, although they can only vote in one race.
Polls open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 7 p.m. ET today. Virginia had 6,178,219 registered voters as of Jan. 1, 2024. This year’s primary is the first Virginia presidential primary since former Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam signed the 45-day early voting into law.
Virginia assigns its total 45 delegates on a pro-rated basis; 12 are based on state-wide results and 33 based on results in 11 congressional districts at 3 each.
Virginia Super Tuesday in Action
VIENNA, Va.—It’s raining in northern Virginia. When the rain stops in about two hours, we will probably see more traffic at polling stations.
