©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 will hold their presidential nominating contests on Tuesday, a week after both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won enough delegates to clinch their parties’ nomination.
Even as the two candidates now look ahead to a November general election rematch, Biden faces a protest movement from Democratic voters who object to his support for Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza.
The movement, which has had varying degrees of success in states that have already held primaries, asks voters to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots to register their opposition to Biden’s position.
Here’s a look at what’s happening on the ground in Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries.
ARIZONA
Republican delegate count: 43
Democratic delegate count: 72
Polls close at 10pm EDT (02am GMT Wednesday).
In Arizona, organizers supporting the “uncommitted” movement are urging voters to choose Democrat Marianne Williamson over Biden. Williamson suspended her campaign after the Nevada 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 — which makes up a third of the state — could help Trump, as growing numbers of Hispanic voters are shifting their allegiance to him.
FLORIDA
Republican delegate count: 125
Democratic delegate count: 224
Polls close at 7pm EDT (11pm GMT).
There will be no Democratic primary in Florida, where the state party effectively canceled them after voting to list Biden as the only candidate on the ballot. Even on the Republican side, Trump faces no challenger; Florida Gov. 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 retaining classified documents after leaving White House. He has denied any wrongdoing.
ILLINOIS
Republican delegate count: 64
Democratic delegate count: 147
Polls close at 8pm EDT (0000 GMT Wednesday).
Organizers of the “uncommitted” movement are asking Democratic voters in Illinois to leave their ballots blank or write “Gaza” on their ballots. Biden beat Trump by about 17 percentage points in Illinois in 2020 and is expected to take the Democratic stronghold again this year.
KANSAS
Republican delegate count: 39
Democratic delegate count: 33
Polls close at 8pm EDT (0000 GMT Wednesday).
Kansas is holding its first presidential primary in 30 years; typically holds caucuses, which are less costly to the state but result in lower turnout. 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
Republican delegate count: 79
Democratic delegate count: 127
Polls close at 7.30pm EDT (11.30pm GMT on Wednesday).
Ohio does not have an “uncommitted” option and blank ballots and registrations will not be counted. Trump beat Biden by 8 percentage points in Ohio in 2020. The Republican nominee led Biden by 17 percentage points in a March poll by SurveyUSA.