Donald Trump: On Super Tuesday, Donald Trump secured victories in the Republican presidential nominating contests in Virginia and North Carolina, according to projections by Edison Research. The former president aimed to strengthen his position and potentially force his rival, Nikki Haley, out of the race, setting the stage for a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Voters in 15 states and one U.S. territory participated in the primary elections, with polling stations set to close throughout the evening, concluding with Alaska at midnight EST (0500 on Wednesday GMT).
Exit polls conducted by Edison in California, North Carolina, and Virginia revealed that immigration and the economy were top concerns for voters in both parties. A majority of Republican voters in these states expressed support for deporting illegal immigrants, aligning with Trump’s promise to conduct the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if elected. Despite California’s Democratic leanings, Trump maintained a significant base of support in Huntington Beach, where 65-year-old homemaker Katherine Meredith cast her vote for him.
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Meredith stated, “The border is a complete catastrophe.” Meanwhile, in the Democratic contests, Biden was expected to secure victories, with some activists urging protest votes in Minnesota due to concerns about his strong support for Israel.
Edison’s projections indicated Trump’s victories in Iowa, North Carolina, and Virginia. Despite facing criminal charges, Trump has dominated the Republican campaign, narrowing the field of candidates down to two. Although Trump cannot formally secure the nomination on Super Tuesday, a strong performance would increase pressure on Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, to reconsider her long-shot bid. These contests will allocate more than one-third of Republican delegates, representing over 70% of the total needed for the nomination
In an interview with Fox, Trump confidently asserted, “We’re going to win every state tonight.” His advisers anticipate eliminating Haley mathematically by March 19, coinciding with two-thirds of the states completing their voting. Notably, Trump is scheduled to face his first criminal trial in New York six days later, charged with falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments during his 2016 presidential run.
Biden, in an interview on Power 98 FM, emphasized the opportunity to address “the extreme division and violence the MAGA Republicans are pushing.” Pop star Taylor Swift encouraged voting on Instagram, without endorsing specific candidates, while the down-ticket races included contests in California to identify successors for the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and recently deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In Arizona, independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she would not seek reelection, setting the stage for a closely watched battle that could impact control of the Senate. Haley’s challenge has brought attention to potential vulnerabilities in Trump’s general election prospects, with some state contests showing her reaching 40%, indicating unease among independents and moderate Republicans about a second Trump term.
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Exit polls revealed varying opinions on Trump’s fitness for office if convicted of a crime. In North Carolina, one-third of voters expressed doubts, while in Virginia, 53% believed he would still be fit for the presidency. Trump faces multiple criminal charges, including a New York case set for trial shortly after Super Tuesday, as well as federal and Georgia state charges for election interference. He also faces federal charges for retaining classified documents after leaving office, pleading not guilty in all four cases.
