Super Tuesday results updates: Haley nixes Trump sweep with Vermont win
These were the updates for March 5, 2024, as US voters headed to the polls for the Super Tuesday primary races.
This live page is now closed. For more information about Super Tuesday, please visit our dedicated article on the night’s biggest takeaways here.
This live page is now closed. For more information about Super Tuesday, please visit our dedicated article on the night’s biggest takeaways here.
- Results are starting to roll in as millions of Americans cast primary ballots on Super Tuesday, one of the most important dates in the United States presidential election calendar.
- Votes are taking place in approximately 15 US states – including Texas and California – and one territory, American Samoa. An additional mail-in race took place in Iowa for Democrats.
- Democratic President Biden has already won every state announced so far, plus the mail-in Democratic primary in Iowa. He did, however, face a loss in the US territory of American Samoa.
- Former President Donald Trump cemented his frontrunner status with victories in most of the night’s races, including key states California, Virginia, North Carolina and Texas.
- But former United Nations envoy Nikki Haley delivered an upset in the Republican primary in Vermont, where she resonated among moderate voters.
Thank you for joining us
We appreciate you joining us for election night coverage of the Super Tuesday primaries in the United States.
For key takeaways from tonight’s races, please check out our analysis here. And catch up on key elections in California and Texas – the two most populous states – with our profiles of Representative Barbara Lee and the down-ballot races poised to set the tone for Republican leadership in the US South.
You can also dive into the history of Super Tuesday here.
Key takeaways from the Super Tuesday races
Our live coverage is soon coming to an end. Here are some of the main developments from Super Tuesday’s primary races:
- Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley denied Donald Trump a clean sweep of the night’s Republican primaries with her victory in moderate-leaning Vermont.
- Incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden cruised to victory in nearly every race, marking a loss only in the small island territory of American Samoa.
- Biden did, however, face a protest vote. In the state of Minnesota, for example, approximately 20 percent of voters chose the “uncommitted” option over the incumbent to show their displeasure for his support of Israel’s war in Gaza.
- Down-ballot races offered a preview of the November general elections. In California, for instance, progressive candidates were knocked out of contention for an open Senate seat by Democratic centrist Adam Schiff and political newcomer Steve Garvey, a Republican.
- And in Texas, a Republican stronghold, Trump’s hold over the party was tested, as the political hopefuls he endorsed struggled to decisively defeat establishment candidates.
Former Trump campaign adviser advances in Texas race
Former Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson has advanced in a Republican primary race in the suburbs outside of Dallas, Texas.
Pierson is challenging Texas State Representative Justin Holland, one of dozens of Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach Trump ally and right-wing Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Paxton is scheduled to go on trial in April for securities fraud charges.
Pierson and Holland will now face each other in a run-off election on May 28. Pierson ran a failed congressional campaign in 2014 before working as a spokesperson for the Trump campaign.
Victory speech of California Senate candidate interrupted by calls for a ceasefire
Congressman Adam Schiff, who has emerged as the clear frontrunner in a race to fill California’s open US Senate seat, saw his victory speech interrupted by demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza.
The firmly pro-Israel Schiff has consistently pushed back against calls for a ceasefire. By contrast, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is currently fourth in the state’s Senate primary, made her clear support for a ceasefire an point of distinction in the race.
“Adam Schiff’s entire victory speech tonite was interrupted by protesters chanting for a ceasefire in Gaza,” POLITICO reporter Christopher Cadelago said in a social media post. In a video, protesters can be heard loudly chanting, “Ceasefire now!”
Adam Schiff’s entire victory speech tonite was interrupted by protesters chanting for a ceasefire in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/zptVYFagu1
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) March 6, 2024
State-level power struggles continue as Trump cements hold over GOP
While Trump has cruised to victory in state after state, dispatching any remaining doubts about his status as the Republican presidential frontrunner, fierce battles continue to play out down the ballot.
Some of those races have pitched Trump-aligned candidates against Republicans perceived as insufficiently loyal to the former president.
In Texas, for instance, state House Speaker Dade Phelan drew ire from his right flank after presiding over the impeachment of Trump ally and far-right Attorney General Ken Paxton.
A Trump-endorsed candidate, David Covey, ultimately challenged Phelan for his state House district. The race was sufficiently tight to advance to a run-off in May.
Jason Palmer weighs in on surprise win in American Samoa
Jason Palmer, an investor based in Maryland, has expressed surprise after denying President Joe Biden a win in the US territory of American Samoa in the South Pacific.
“When I started this race, I knew there was a 99 percent chance that Joe Biden would win,” he told The Associated Press.
“I found out that I had won because my phone started blowing up with friends and campaign staffers texting me.”
Minnesota governor says ‘uncommitted’ voters ‘asking to be heard’ after strong showing
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has said voters in his state who selected “uncommitted” in the Democratic Party primary are using democratic methods to bring attention to the outrage they feel over the war in Gaza.
Last week, more than 101,000 people voted “uncommitted” in Michigan’s Democratic primary, a sign of growing disenchantment with President Biden, who has supported Israel’s military campaign.
Tonight’s results in Minnesota show that the protest vote against Biden is still going strong.
With nearly 90 percent of the vote counted, the “uncommitted” option has clinched nearly 20 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, easily surpassing the goal that activist groups set.
“They are asking to be heard and that’s what they should be doing,” Walz said in an interview on CNN. “Their message is clear that they think this is an intolerable situation and that we can do more. And I think the president is hearing that.”
Haley campaign says she is ‘honoured’ by Super Tuesday support
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s campaign has said that she is “honoured” by the support she received on Super Tuesday.
Haley won the moderate-leaning Vermont but lost every other state up for grabs tonight to Republican frontrunner Trump.
Still, some analysts have said that Haley’s success among more moderate voters could spell trouble for the deeply polarising Trump in a general election.
“Today, in state after state, there remains a large block of Republican primary voters who are expressing deep concerns about Donald Trump,” Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement.
“That is not the unity our party needs for success.”
Representative Colin Allred to face Ted Cruz in Texas’s US Senate race
Democrats have long eyed Ted Cruz’s seat in the US Senate as a potential point of vulnerability.
Now, the party has its champion to face Cruz in the general election: Representative Colin Allred. A former American football player, Allred easily surpassed his progressive rival Roland Gutierrez to win the Democratic primary on Super Tuesday.
The last time Cruz had to defend his Senate seat was in 2018. But it turned out to be a nail-biter of a race, as Democrat Beto O’Rourke came within 215,000 votes of Cruz’s total.
Who will replace Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the storied antiwar voice from California?
Lee, who gained fame for her outspoken opposition to US wars overseas, vacated her seat in California’s 12th Congressional District, located in the Bay Area of northern California, to run for Senate.
With 37 percent of the votes counted, Lee is in fourth place with less than 7 percent of the vote and appears unlikely to advance to the second round of voting for the state’s open Senate seat. Who is likely to replace the longtime progressive stalwart in the 12th district?
Lateefah Simon, a transport administrator and civil rights advocate, is the strong favourite in the race to succeed Lee. With 18 percent of the vote tallied, The New York Times shows Simon with a 24-point lead over her closest rival.
Republican Steve Garvey advances to general election in race for California Senate seat
Garvey has secured second place in California’s open Senate primary, advancing to the November election where he will face off against Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, according to an AP projection.
Schiff, an influential Democrat in the House, beat back challenges from fellow House members Barbara Lee and Katie Porter, both of whom challenged him from the left.
Schiff will be the strong favourite in November against Garvey, given California’s status as a Democratic stronghold. Garvey, however, has led a dark-horse campaign: a former baseball star for the Dodgers team, he is making his first-ever bid for public office.
The last state to close its polling stations: Alaska
The final state for the night to close its polling stations is Alaska, the largest state by land mass. Voting ends at midnight US Eastern Time (05:00 GMT).
Representative Adam Schiff advances as frontrunner for US Senate seat
Known for leading the 2019 impeachment inquiry into then-President Trump, Schiff of California has advanced to the final round of the race to replace the late Senator Dianne Feinstein.
He quickly emerged victorious from California’s “jungle primary” – a primary race where candidates from all parties can participate. However, his adversary in November has yet to be decided.
A centrist who has opposed a ceasefire in Gaza, Schiff is angling for the coveted Senate seat Feinstein held for more than three decades.
Biden and Trump emerge as undisputed frontrunners despite low popularity
Biden and Trump have emerged as near-certain nominees for their respective parties, despite voter exhaustion with the prospect of a rematch between the two.
While they have faced little serious competition within their parties, polls show that few are enthusiastic about the prospect of their face-off in November.
According to the political analysis site 538, more than 55 percent of people have an unfavourable view of Biden, compared with 40 percent who have a favourable view.
For Trump, the figures were not much more flattering: more than 43 percent had a favourable view, while about 52 percent had an unfavourable view.
Trump notches a win in California
Trump has won the Republican presidential primary for the western state of California, according to a projection from the AP. Clinching a win in the most delegate-heavy state in the country, Trump continues his dominant performance in his battle for the Republican nomination.
A total of 169 Republican delegates were at stake in the primary.
Biden wins in Democratic stronghold California
President Biden has won the Democratic presidential primary in California, according to an AP projection.
With 495 delegates, it is the biggest prize of the night for Biden.
Gaza war continues to motivate some primary voters
Some states have seen Democratic primary voters select the “uncommitted” option as a protest against President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and prompted warnings of mass starvation by humanitarian groups.
Some Democrats, however, have argued that Trump would be even more strongly pro-Israel than Biden. Still, many particularly in the progressive wing of the party see the primaries as an opportunity to send a strong signal to the incumbent president.
“I firmly believe that, in order for me to vote for someone, they need to earn the vote,” 29-year-old Colorado voter Marcus Casillas told The Associated Press news agency. “I want to have belief in what I’m doing when I make that choice.”
California governor urges voters to stay in line
California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged those who wish to cast a vote in the state’s primary race to stay in line as polls near their closing hour of 8pm local time (04:00 GMT).
“CA: Polls close at 8pm! If you are in line, STAY IN LINE,” Newsom said in a social media post. “You still have the right to cast your ballot.”
Even though polling stations officially close at 8pm, they are not allowed to turn away waiting voters who have yet to cast their ballots.
CA: Polls close at 8pm!
If you are in line, STAY IN LINE.
You still have the right to cast your ballot. https://t.co/nnALylmCmM
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 6, 2024
California and Utah’s polling stations to close
It is 11pm on the US East Coast (04:00 GMT) and a couple more states are powering down their polling stations: Utah in the northwest and California on the west coast.
California is the country’s most populous state and its races are therefore under the microscope, with a highly competitive Senate race under way.
Sinema’s withdrawal could shake up Senate race in Arizona
On Super Tuesday, independent Senator Krysten Sinema announced that she would not seek reelection – a revelation that has shaken up the race for her Senate seat in the western state of Arizona.
Early polls indicated she was expected to lose her bid. Formerly a Democrat, Sinema has faced criticism from party members after siding with conservatives and business interests on key issues.
Democrats narrowly control the Senate and Sinema was likewise criticised for failing to vote for several of President Biden’s central legislative priorities, thereby scuttling their passage.
Sinema changed her party affiliation from Democrat to an independent in December 2022, sparking fears among party officials that she could turn Arizona’s US Senate election into a three-way race.
Following her withdrawal from the race, Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego said the state was at a crossroads. He called on “Democrats, Independents, and Republicans” to unite against Republican candidate Kari Lake, a close ally of Donald Trump who has refused to recognise Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
In first surprise of Super Tuesday, Haley wins Vermont
Super Tuesday may be the twilight of Haley’s campaign but there has been one shooting star.
The Associated Press has called Vermont, a state tucked in liberal New England, for Haley. Her campaign had hoped she would appeal to the state’s historically moderate Republicans.
The win represents the first real upset of the day. It is also the first state Haley has won this primary season. She also made history over the weekend by winning the federal district of Washington, DC, in a party-run primary vote.
Results closely watched in California’s ‘jungle’ Senate primary
The race for the seat vacated after the death of Senator Dianne Feinstein may be one of the most closely watched elections of Super Tuesday.
Three prominent Democratic Representatives have foregone re-election in the US House of Representatives to pursue the Senate seat: Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee.
But they are not only in competition with each other during today’s primary. California is holding a so-called “jungle primary” to decide which two Senate candidates proceed to the general election. That allows all candidates — regardless of the party — to run in the same race.
Schiff is widely expected to be the frontrunner, with Porter battling Republican Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player, for second place.
Lee, a progressive stalwart, is expected to finish fourth. Nevertheless, her criticism of Biden’s support for Israel has transformed the race. Porter, a staunch supporter of Israel, has also called for a ceasefire, but only after Hamas is removed “from operational control of Gaza”. Schiff has supported continued aid to Israel and has not called for a ceasefire.
Read more about how calls for a ceasefire became the focal point of Lee’s campaign here.
Biden says voters showed they are ‘ready to fight back against Donald Trump’
In a post on the social media platform X, Biden underscored his strategy for the months ahead, framing the election as a battle to stop Trump and to “defend democracy”.
“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,” he said.
“Every generation of Americans will face a moment when it has to defend democracy,” he said. “This is our fight.”
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.
Every generation of Americans will face a moment when it has to defend democracy. This is our fight.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 6, 2024
Results show Republican Party ‘made in the image’ of Trump
Trump’s overwhelming success thus far shows that he faces no serious opposition within the GOP.
“It looks as if Nikki Haley might just squeak out a win in Vermont. But in reality it’s the participation trophy for Super Tuesday, because Donald Trump is sweeping all before him,” Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher reported from Palm Beach, Florida.
“The worry for Donald Trump could be some of the exit polls. People who have voted for Nikki Haley who are Republicans say their vote doesn’t automatically switch to Donald Trump come November. But the reality is the Grand Old Party of American politics is now very much made in the image of Donald Trump.”
Trump lauds ‘super’ Super Tuesday in Mar-a-Lago speech
The former president appeared before crowds of supporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort, walking on stage to the sound of Lee Greenwood’s song Proud to be an American and chants of “USA”.
“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason,” he told the crowd in his election night speech. “This was an amazing night, an amazing day”.
In true Trumpian fashion, the former president decried Biden as the “worst president in the history of our country”, blaming him for the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
If he were still in office, he added: “We wouldn’t have Russia attacking Ukraine. We wouldn’t have Israel being attacked,” Trump said.
The economy would also be thriving and undocumented migration would be stemmed, he added.
“Think of it: all of the problems that you have today. I don’t think you would have had any of them,” he said. “You’d only have success and that’s what’s ultimately going to unify this country and unify this party.”
In one particularly strange moment, Trump referred to the “the big futures – big fat, beautiful futures” in the room, apparently referring to young people in attendance.
“I’d love to be your age,” he said. “I’d pay you a lot of money to be your age.”