© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to his campaign field office in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., March 11, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
By Helen Coster
(Reuters) -Five states are holding their presidential nominating contests on Tuesday, a week after both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump netted enough delegates to clinch their parties’ nomination.
Though the two candidates are now looking ahead to their general election rematch in November, Biden is contending with a protest movement from Democratic voters who oppose his backing of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
The movement, which has had varying degrees of success in states that have already held primaries, is asking voters to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots to register their opposition to Biden’s position.
Here is a look at what is happening on the ground in Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries.
ARIZONA
Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary
Republican delegate count: 43
Democratic delegate count: 72
In Arizona, organizers who support the “uncommitted” movement were urging voters to choose Democrat Marianne Williamson over Biden. Williamson suspended her campaign after Nevada’s primary but recently reactivated it. In 2020, Biden beat Trump by just 10,000 voters in Arizona. A March poll from Beacon Research shows Trump leading Biden by 4 percentage points in this year’s rematch. Arizona’s large Hispanic population – representing a third of the state – could have helped Trump, as a growing number of Hispanic voters are switching their allegiance to him.
FLORIDA
Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary
Republican delegate count: 125
Democratic delegate count: 224
There was no Democratic primary in Florida, where the state party effectively canceled it after voting to list Biden as the only candidate on the ballot. On the Republican side, Trump also faced no challengers; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended his presidential campaign in January and subsequently endorsed Trump. The former president beat Biden by 3.3 percentage points in Florida in 2020 and has an even wider lead in polls for the 2024 general election. Trump faces criminal charges in Florida accusing him of illegally holding on to classified documents after leaving the White House. He has denied wrongdoing.
ILLINOIS
Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary
Republican delegate count: 64
Democratic delegate count: 147
Organizers of the “uncommitted” movement were asking Democratic voters in Illinois to either leave their ballots blank or write “Gaza” on their ballots. Biden beat Trump by roughly 17 percentage points in Illinois in 2020 and is expected to win the Democratic stronghold again this year.
KANSAS
Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary
Republican delegate count: 39
Democratic delegate count: 33
Kansas held its first presidential primary in 30 years; it typically holds caucuses, which are less costly for the state but result in lower participation. In November’s general election, Trump is expected to easily win the state, where he beat Biden by more than 14 percentage points in 2020.
OHIO
Race call: Biden wins Democratic primary, Trump wins Republican primary
Republican delegate count: 79
Democratic delegate count: 127
Ohio did not have an “uncommitted” option, and blank ballots and write-ins will not be counted. Trump beat Biden by 8 percentage points in Ohio in 2020. The Republican candidate led Biden by 17 percentage points in a March poll from SurveyUSA.