WASHINGTON (BP)—Super Tuesday ballots in 14 states and American Samoa could solidify a Democratic challenger for President Donald Trump and shape congressional races in five states. Trump has no strong challenger for the Republican nomination.
Amy Klobuchar on Monday, March 2 became the latest Democratic challenger to end her bid, a campaign official announced, saying Klobuchar would instead support former Vice President Joe Biden. The Minnesota U.S. senator had gained seven delegates, according to ballotpedia.org.
Former South Bend, Ind., mayor Peter “Pete” Buttigieg, who had garnered about 25 delegates, suspended his campaign Feb. 29 after a poor showing in the South Carolina presidential primary, and Monday pledged his support to Biden.
Biden has at least 50 pledged delegates, according to tallies, in his run for the Democratic nomination after gaining 48 percent of the vote in South Carolina. Biden trails candidate Bernie Sanders who has at least 58 delegates. The only other candidate with delegates is Elizabeth Warren, with eight.
In Super Tuesday presidential primaries, 1,344 pledged Democrat and 844 pledged Republican delegates are in the mix, according to Ballotpedia’s tally. Another 13 Democrat delegates are available through the Democrats Abroad primary running March 3-20 for Americans living outside the U.S., the group said at democratsabroad.org. The first Democrat to gain 1,991 delegates would get the party nod.
Congressional races are on Super Tuesday ballots in Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina and Texas, with races in all states but Arkansas considered competitive, according to rollcall.com.
In addition to the American Samoa and Democrats Abroad caucuses, presidential primaries are set for Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.
A handful of states will hold “Super Tuesday” primaries March 10 and March 17.