By The Epoch Times Staff
What’s happening today:
- 15 states and one territory are holding presidential primaries. Read more here.
- Several of those states have Congressional primary races, including California, North Carolina, Texas, and Alabama. North Carolina also has its gubernatorial primaries.
- Polls close in east coast states at 7 p.m. ET. On the West Coast, the polls will close in California at 11 p.m. ET and in Alaska at midnight ET. The first results on Super Tuesday will arrive from Iowa at 6 p.m. ET.
- Check out our live results of key down-ballot races here from 6 p.m. ET.
- The Epoch Times has reporters on the ground in more than 10 states. Follow here for live updates.
Mail-in Voting Affects California In-Person Turnout
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Turnout here has been affected by mail-in and early voting according to poll workers at Faith Temple Church, which houses four precincts in California’s 22nd Congressional District.
Each California voter received a ballot by mail for the first time this year.
Workers reported serving six voters during the first two hours of in-person voting. Polls will remain open until 8 p.m.
—Lawrence Wilson
California Voter Says Border, National Security is Key Issue
MODESTO, Calif.–Samuel White Ephriam, legal redress for the NAACP, of Modesto, California told The Epoch Times that politicians need to focus on policies that benefit and protect the country.
“The everyday citizens want answers. We don’t want a mouthful of nothing … and that’s what people are giving nowadays. We want substance and something that is real for the citizens.”
As a veteran, he said national security should be a priority.
“We need to talk about the security of our nation and our borders. That is a hotbed issue, and at the same time, we have to be concerned about who our allies are.”
—Travis Gillmore
South Alabama Voter Questions Loyalty of Congressmen
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Steve Bitowf, 68, of Spanish Fort, Alabama, voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) but said he’s frustrated with the redistricting in southern Alabama as well as the distance between his elected officials in Washington and the regular people back home.
“I would like to see it go back to the way it originally was, you go [to Washington] for the legislative session then you come back and live like normal people,” Mr. Bitowf told The Epoch Times.
If candidates are willing to raise and spend millions of dollars to be elected, Mr. Bitowf implied they will be more loyal to their donors than their districts.
“Who are they going to listen to? Are they going to listen to me, or are they going to listen to wherever the money comes from? It’s very frustrating,” Mr. Bitowf said.
—Austin Alonzo
Meta Platforms Affected by Widespread Outages
Social media users received a shock on March 5 as several of Meta’s platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads—experienced widespread outages.
According to internet traffic observer Down Detector, the outages were first reported just after 10 a.m. ET and remained unresolved nearly two hours later. The problems were reported in various countries, suggesting that the problem could be global.
Many social media users noted the suspect timing of the outages given the Super Tuesday elections taking place in more than a dozen states.
“I’m no conspiracy theorist, but it’s very odd that on Super Tuesday, aka an important election day, that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram are both down,” wrote comedian Tim Young on X.
Candidates often use social media to communicate important election information and resources to voters as they head to the polls. London-based internet monitoring firm Netblocks reported that the outages were “not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering,” which are usually imposed by governments.
“We’re aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now,” wrote Andy Stone, Meta’s head of communications, in an X post.
—Samantha Flom
Michelle Obama Won’t Run For President in 2024, Office Says
While former President Barack Obama has endorsed President Joe Biden’s re-election, some have raised questions regarding former First Lady Michelle Obama’s potential role in the 2024 election.
Some Republicans have floated the theory that Ms. Obama might replace President Biden as the Democratic nominee, claiming the president is too old to run and that party insiders were looking for a backup plan before the November race.
However, the former first lady’s office just poured cold water on the notion of her becoming the Democratic nominee.
“As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” said Crystal Carson, director of communications for Mrs. Obama’s office.
“Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign,” she added.
Instead, she plans to assist President Biden with his campaign this fall, like she did in 2020. However, her role might be smaller than Mr. Obama’s, who will likely stump for his former vice president.
President Biden’s campaign confirmed the former president and former first lady’s upcoming roles later this year.
“President and Michelle Obama were enormously helpful in the fight to beat Donald Trump and elect President Biden and Vice President Harris the first time and we are grateful to have their voice and their support in the fight for the fate of our democracy this November,” President Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a statement.
—Jacob Burg
Corresponding With Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Richard Mykitta, 64, of Spanish Fort voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) because while he doesn’t know him, he’s emailed him frequently.
Mr. Mykitta told The Epoch Times that he’s been in touch with the congressman for more than a year digitally.
“I’m not going to tell you I agree with everything he says, but he does respond,” Mr. Mykitta said.
Compared with Mr. Carl’s rival for the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, Mr. Mykitta said he has no experience with Rep. Barry Moore.
“I don’t know him,” Mr. Moore said. “I don’t know who he really is.”
—Austin Alonzo
Illegal Immigration Main Issue for Trump Supporter
ATOKA, Okla.‐—Ronnie Henderson, of Atoka, Oklahoma, said he voted for former President Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for one reason.
“We’ve got to get that border secured and I don’t think the female is capable of handling the job,” Mr. Henderson told The Epoch Times.
—Michael Clements
Working Maine Voters Favor Trump Over Haley
TOPSHAM, Maine—Among blue-collar Maine residents, including union members and ironworks employees, support for Donald J. Trump runs high and there is a shared sense that Nikki Haley is running a political campaign more in touch with powerful and wealthy donors than with people concerned about energy costs and parental choice in education.
That’s the view of Allen Sarvinas, a 41-year-old employee of Bath Iron Works in the southeastern town of Topsham. Though the town is in the 1st Congressional District, which went for President Joe Biden in 2020, Mr. Sarvinas believes that President Trump represents the interests of blue-collar workers there.
“My experience working on the ground with Republicans, especially on the front lines with parents trying to organize so their voices are heard, Trump has much more support on the ground, and among the unions, especially the local 6, a large union down at Bath Iron Works,” Mr. Sarvinas told The Epoch Times.
“Trump has done things with regard to affordable energy, and there’s growing support. Haley’s support is more with an older generation of the Republican Party that’s not adapting very well to the changing demographics in the party.”
—Michael Washburn
Supporting ‘Local Boy’ Vince Fong for CD-20
I voted for Vince Fong because he’s a local boy. I voted for Nikki Haley, even though I don’t think she has a chance of winning.
— Patricia Bowes, 75, of Bakersfield, California
—Lawrence Wilson
Voter in California Says Country Needs Trump’s Leadership
I am just praying that Donald Trump takes office and the country gets back on track. We’re seeing a lot of different things with people flooding into our country. We’ve got to get the border crisis and inflation problems solved.
— Ashton Reeves, 35, of Modesto, California
—Travis Gillmore
Texas Town Voter Turnout is Up
Rockwall, Texas—This traditionally conservative suburb of Dallas saw a higher-than-expected early voter turnout. Local voters have come out for former President Donald Trump in past elections.
—Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Election Worker: ‘This Is My Way of Serving My Country’
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Elections often mean long hours for election workers and volunteers before and after Election Day itself.
Lisa O’Neill, chief of the precinct voting at Loudoun County’s Mountain View Elementary School, arrived on-site at 4:30 a.m. on March 5. The team arrived at 5 a.m. to set up the polling station for the 6 a.m. open. Polls close at 7 p.m.
“The reason I like to do elections is because I’ve never served in the military. And it is my way of serving my country in another way,” Ms. O’Neill, who works at the Loudoun County Public Schools system, told The Epoch Times.
This year is the fifth year Jennifer Boner, 51, a homemaker, has been working with the county’s election office.
“I have time to do it. And I think that the people who have time to do it are the ones who need to step up and do your civic duty to be here,” she told The Epoch Times.
“We need people to run free and fair elections. If we don’t have people stepping up to do it, then we don’t have free and fair elections.”
—Terri Wu
Biden Voter Fears Possible Trump Return, But Also Frustrated With Admin
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—When asked why she was voting for President Joe Biden in the Democratic Primary in Central Arkansas, Nedra French was clear, her support was because she did want former President Donald Trump back in office.
Ms. French cited President Trump’s ongoing litigation, as well as his “starting a riot and getting all those folks hurt” as some of her motivations for supporting President Biden.
She didn’t hold back with her frustration with President Biden, however, saying that his administration is taking “care of people in another country more than they do our people.”
She mentioned specifically the homeless population in the United States and funding going overseas: “They spend all this money over there for these folks in Gaza and this war. What do they do for our people?”
Ms. French said that she thinks well of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and would vote for him if he were the nominee, “Because his father was a good man.”
—Savannah Hulsey Pointer
Light Turnout for In-Person Voting in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Voter turnout was light about an hour after polls opened at OC Actis Junior High School, which serves as a polling place for eight precincts in California’s 20th congressional district.
Poll workers told The Epoch Times that in-person turnout was not a concern as many Californians vote by mail or at one of the 19 ballot dropboxes in Kern County.
Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong leads the polling in this solidly Republican district, which had been served by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
—Lawrence Wilson
Elementary School Gets Steady Flow of Voters
GREENSBORO. N.C.— Franklin Pierce Elementary School experienced a good flow of voters on March 5. When polls opened at 6:30 a.m. ET, there were 10 people waiting in line, according to the judge at the polling place.
One voter, Dee, told The Epoch Times she is voting for Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, for governor, saying that she “like[s] his principles, the things he has put forward.” She did not specify those attributes and declined to say what she thinks the biggest issues are facing North Carolinians.
Another voter, Sue, said she is voting for former President Donald Trump, citing his tough stance on immigration, which she said is her top issue in the election due to there being “too many” illegal immigrants entering the United States. Illegal immigration is also why she is voting for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, for governor.
Voters cast their ballot at Franklin Pierce Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Jackson Richman/The Epoch Times.
A third voter, Brent Holmes, voted for President Trump, citing his economic and immigration policies—those issues being of primary importance to Mr. Holmes.
He has “confidence he could get us go[ing] in the right direction,” Mr. Holmes said he also voted for Mr. Robinson for governor, noting his staunch support for the former president and that he is “very faith-based, very Christian-oriented.”
—Jackson Richman
Trump Supporter Says America Needs Someone Who Loves the Country
JACKSONVILLE Ark.—Local resident Beatrice Lechner pulled a walker out of the back of her vehicle and told The Epoch Times that she was there to vote for President Donald Trump, even though one of her feet was completely numb.
Ms. Lechner leaned on her walker and said that voting for President Trump needed to be done because “[President Joe] Biden has done such a lousy job with the economy and the border.
“We need somebody that’s gonna love America, and I don’t think Mr. Biden does.”
Ms. Lechner said that while she likes Ms. Haley she “doesn’t think she really has a chance,” and feels that because of Ms. Haley’s previous commitment to not “go against” President Trump, her recent attacks on the former president make her disingenuous.
—Savannah Hulsey Pointer
Voters Frustrated With Current Policies
All the nonsense that’s going on in this country [brought me out today] … the gas prices, energy prices … and all the nonsense that’s going on at our Southern border giving tax money to people that aren’t even citizens of our country.
— Brian Serna, 52, of Modesto, California
—Travis Gillmore
County-Wide System Disruption Causes Slight Voting Delay
MODESTO, Calif.–Voters are trickling in as polls open at 7 a.m. in California’s 13th District, with signs printed in English and Spanish directing voters to a polling location at the Stanislaus Veterans Center. A brief countywide system issue caused a slight delay, but officials corrected the matter within minutes and told The Epoch Times that a download problem was to blame.
—Travis Gillmore
Biden Voter Says President Needs to Do More on Border
SHOREVIEW, Minn.—Doug Gwost was an early voter who came out to show his support for President Joe Biden.
Mr. Gwost said he liked President Biden‘s policies but didn’t say what those policies were.
“Well, there’s some [policies] I don’t support. I think he has to do more about the border. And he’s probably going to be doing that between now and the election,” Mr. Gowst told the Epoch Times.
He said he prefers President Biden’s personality, “as opposed to his anticipated opponent who is all over the place.”
He did not have a strong opinion about the effort to get Democrats to give their vote to “uncommitted” instead of to President Biden, saying everybody has an opinion, and he indicated that the feedback from voters might be useful for the president to hear. Mr. Gwost was unconcerned about President Biden‘s age and cognitive ability.
“He’s only three years older than me and I’m not senile. I like Biden. I would like Biden even more at [age] 45,” Mr. Gwost said. “He’s going to be the candidate unless he drops out, and so I’m going to get behind him.”
—Beth Brelje
Haley Supporter Says White House Needs a ‘Person of Action’
JACKSONVILLE Ark.—Larry K. Crafton strolled out of the Jacksonville First Baptist Church a little before 9:00 a.m. local time and said confidently that he voted for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican primary.
When asked if he felt that Ms. Haley had a shot at winning the election, he said, “Not really, but I don’t like the other two,” referring to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.
Mr. Crafton went on to say he thinks Ms. Haley might have a shot at the next presidential election, in 2028, but no matter what, for the next four years the White House needs a “strong personality” and a “person of action,” rather than “someone that just runs their mouth all the time.
“We need something good to happen in the United States instead of all negative.”
Should Ms. Haley not win the GOP nomination, Mr. Crafton said he is still “undecided” on who he will vote for in the general election in November.
—Savannah Hulsey Pointer
Rain Batters Spanish Fort, Alabama, on Super Tuesday
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Alabamans residing in one of the state’s most populous counties are casting their votes in the 1st Congressional District race between Rep. Jerry Carl and Rep. Barry Moore.
Spanish Fort, Alabama, is located across Mobile Bay from Mobile, Alabama, and is located in Baldwin County. That county is entirely in the Yellowhammer State’s 1st Congressional District.
Baldwin County is the fourth most populous county in Alabama and one of two in the state that borders the Gulf of Mexico.
—Austin Alonzo
Light Turnout in Deep Red Oklahoma
DURANT. Okla.—Veteran poll workers in this Southeastern Oklahoma town say that the slow start portends a light turnout for this primary election.
Just 13 voters had cast their ballots in The First Baptist Church by 8:30 a.m. local time. The poll workers blamed a lack of publicity, voter apathy, and the impression that Oklahoma is so deeply red the outcome Is a given.
Pat Metheny, poll inspector attributed the problem to something that has plagued elections for years.
“People aren’t paying attention,” she said.
—Michael Clements
Elementary Students Fundraise For Field Trip Outside Polling Station
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Students of Mountain View Elementary School in Loudoun County are offering coffee and bakery items to raise funds for a fifth-grader field trip. Today’s target customers are the voters from the neighborhood. The school is one of the polling stations.
“I want to go to King’s Dominion,” one girl told The Epoch Times, referring to the famous amusement park in Virginia. Another girl said she was there just to help her older brother out.
They strategically put their tent outside the voter exit, and the girls carry badges with Venmo QR codes for the donors’ convenience.
—Terri Wu
A Reluctant Trump Voter in Arkansas
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—Local resident Ed Gilboe says that he doesn’t think any of the presidential candidates are “worthy,” but he planned to cast his ballot for former President Donald Trump.
The Air Force veteran said that while he doesn’t care for the way President Trump presents himself and holds him responsible for the events of Jan. 6, he still believes President Trump is a “better candidate than what we’ve got right now.”
Mr. Gilboe was clear that he would prefer to vote for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, but he doesn’t think that she “has enough behind her.”
—Savannah Hulsey Pointer
Light Start in Minnesota
SHOREVIEW, Minn.— In Minnesota, the land of hot dish and 39 delegates, voting was light in the morning, traditionally the busiest voting time of the day. There are lots of cars in the parking lot at the Shoreview Community Center but most folks are here to work out in the pool or gym. Most did not stick around to vote. At this one location, there are three polling places for three different precincts.
In the first hour, just 46 people voted in these three precincts combined.
Shoreview is in Ramsey County, a heavily Democratic metropolitan area in this blue state, which voted for President Joe Biden, 52.4 percent in 2020 compared to Trump who got 45.3 percent of the votes that year.
Minnesota has 10 electoral votes.
There are 10 options on the Democratic primary ballot here, including President Biden, Dean Phillips, who is from Minnesota, and “uncommitted,” which has become a movement across the country for Democrats, who wish to show their displeasure with the president, specifically in regards to his handling of Israel.
Mr. Phillips has laid off staff in recent weeks.
—Beth Brelje
Trump Supporter: Trump Is ‘the Best Man, Hands Down’
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Donald Fraser, a 71-year-old retired U.S. naval officer, said he voted for former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary on Super Tuesday.
“I think he’s the best man, by far, hands down, to help this country get back to the way it was designed by the founders,” Mr. Fraser told The Epoch Times.
“Our rights are given by God. The Constitution protects the rights; it doesn’t give us the rights. It protects the rights that we already have. And I believe that President Trump is the best leader, best President to explain that and to get us [back on track],” Mr. Fraser added.
“It’s making people’s eyes open and realize: we are the greatest country, we’ve always been the greatest country. That’s why we achieve so much.”
—Terri Wu
South Alabama Voters Weigh In on CD-1 GOP Primary Battle
Al Deane, 57, cast his ballot in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, and lives in the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. He told The Epoch Times he was supporting Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) in his primary contest against Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) He said Mr. Carl helps out the constituents of his district.
“I think he’s done a good job.” Mr. Deane said in an interview. “I don’t really know a lot about Barry Moore, but I know Jerry Carl. I know who he is, and so he’s going to get my vote.”
Flora Crawford, 81, voted in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, and resides in the state’s 1st Congressional District. She voted for Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) over his challenger Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.)
“He just seems like an all-around guy,” Ms. Crawford said. “He does his job (and) gets everything done.”
Raven Williams, 80, and Joe Williams, 81, were moved from Alabama’s 1st Congressional District into its 2nd Congressional District when the state redrew its maps in October. The pair, who voted in Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, said they found the slate of eight candidates running for the House in the 2nd district confusing. Ms. Williams said she voted for Greg Albritton.
—Austin Alonzo
Cool Start as Arkansas Primary Opens
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—Super Tuesday opened gloomy and cool in Central Arkansas. Local residents filtered into a First Baptist Church in Jacksonville throughout the morning, passing signs for local candidates, and a few campaigners near the street.
Arkansas, a primarily “red state” is choosing state and local officials, as well as their choice for presidential nominee, and in Congressional District 3 one hotly contested House seat is up for debate.
Incumbent Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is fending off a challenge from state Sen. Clint Penzo (R) to head to the general election in November and face Democrat Caitlin Draper in the general election.
—Savannah Pointer
What Super Tuesday Means for Trump, Haley
Former President Donald Trump is in a dominant position heading into Super Tuesday.
With 273 delegates, he holds a substantial lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. And with a clean sweep of March 5’s voting states, he could clinch the Republican Party’s nomination for president as soon as March 12.
For Ms. Haley, with just one victory and 43 delegates under her belt, the path ahead is less certain. But she’s not letting that stop her from plowing ahead.
“As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I’m going to continue to fight,” she told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on March 3.
As for what “competitive” will look like for the candidate—who trails President Trump nationally by 64 points, per RealClearPolitics—she didn’t specify.
But even if she does drop out, Ms. Haley said she did not feel bound by the pledge she made to the Republican National Committee (RNC) to back the party’s eventual nominee.
With RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stepping down, she said, “The RNC now is not the same RNC. Now it’s Trump’s daughter-in-law.”
President Trump has backed Lara Trump, the wife of his son Eric, for RNC co-chair, though new leadership has yet to be elected.
If Ms. Haley were to withhold her support from President Trump heading into the general election, it could further damage her reputation with his supporters, who now make up a sizable majority of the party. And in that situation, her political future could reach a dead end.
But the future, she said, is not something she’s thinking about right now.
“I don’t look too far ahead. I look at, what do the American people want? If 70 percent of Americans say they don’t want Donald Trump or Joe Biden, that’s not a small number.
“If 30 to 40 percent of all these early states have said they want to vote for the direction of where we want to take the country, that’s not a small number. And so that’s why we continue to push forward.”
—Samantha Flom
Majority of Americans Believe Economy Worse Now Than Before Biden’s Presidency: Poll
As the Super Tuesday contests begin on March 5 for both Republicans and Democrats, President Joe Biden faces voters who see an economy worse now than before he entered the White House in 2021.
A new poll from AP-NORC shows that a majority of Americans—57 percent—believe that the nation’s economy is “much worse” or “somewhat worse” now than before the start of President Biden’s term.
Fifty-five percent of Americans are also worried that the country as a whole is much or somewhat worse now than before 2021.
President Biden also faces uncertainty over voters’ impression of his mental acuity.
Sixty-three percent of Americans said they are “not very” or “not at all” confident in his mental capability to serve effectively as president. Fifty-seven percent of Americans said the same thing about former President Donald Trump.
—Jacob Burg
‘Uncommitted’ Democrat Protest Spreads
The “uncommitted” campaign that deprived President Joe Biden of two Democrat delegates in Michigan has now spread to multiple Super Tuesday states.
Led by progressive and Muslim voters, the pro-Palestinian protest aims to pressure the president into calling for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
President Biden easily won Michigan’s Democrat primary on Feb. 27, garnering more than 623,000 votes and 115 delegates. But that victory was overshadowed by the 101,000 Democrat primary voters who cast their ballots for “uncommitted” in protest against his support for Israel.
The results shocked organizers, who had set the bar low at 10,000 votes. Now, they’re calling on voters in Super Tuesday states to keep the movement going.
In Minnesota, Democrat primary ballots will feature an “uncommitted” option. And in North Carolina and Colorado, voters are being urged to cast their ballots for “no preference” or “noncommitted delegate,” respectively.
While the protest votes are not expected to alter President Biden’s path to the Democrat nomination, they will offer insight into his popularity—and electability—in those states.
—Samantha Flom
Tennessee Primary Opens with Rainy Day in Nashville
VANDERBILT, Tenn.—Nashville residents awoke Super Tuesday to a gray rainy scene that is likely to stick around the whole day.
The National Weather Service predicts the music city to get more than half-an-inch of rain throughout the day, with showers throughout the day and thunderstorms expected before noon.
Polling stations across Davidson County, Tennessee, opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. It is unclear what kind of effect the weather might have on voter turnout.
Tennessee’s only participating in a presidential primary election today, and its Republican voters are deciding upon delegates who will appear at the Republican National Convention. There are 58 up for grabs.
A state primary will be held on Aug. 1.
–T.J. Muscaro
Virginia College Student Rejects Biden to Send a Message to DNC
PURCELLVILLE, Va.—Matthew Castro, 20, a Virginia Tech student majoring in international relations, is back home in northern Virginia’s Loudoun County during spring break. He said he voted for Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) in the Democrat primary.
He said he knew President Joe Biden would win the Democrat nomination but voted for Mr. Phillips to send out a message to the DNC. Unlike in Michigan, Virginia voters don’t have an option to vote “uncommitted.”
“It’s unacceptable to run a candidate who isn’t going to call for ceasefire or for a more permanent solution for Palestine,” Mr. Castro told The Epoch Times.
He added that he didn’t pick Marianne Williamson, the third candidate on the Democrat ballot, because of her lack of government experience.
—Terri Wu
Voting Begins in South Alabama
TILLMAN’S CORNER, Ala.—Voters are casting their ballots for the first time in a newly redrawn 1st Congressional District and 2nd Congressional District in Southern Alabama on March 5.
Tillman’s Corner, Alabama, southwest of Mobile, Alabama, straddles both the new 1st District and new 2nd District. Alabamans casting their ballots here will consider a slew of local issues, along with the state’s presidential primary and its statewide primary election for a member of the House.
In the 1st District, Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) and Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) are running against each other to represent the Republican Party in a highly red voting area.
In the 2nd District, about 20 total candidates are vying to represent either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party in the eventual November contest. A run-off scenario is likely in the 2nd District.
—Austin Alonzo
Down-Ballot Races to Watch Today
The presidential race will not be the only election of national consequence dotting ballots on Super Tuesday.
Several states will also hold primaries for their House and Senate races, and with the current majorities in both chambers hanging by a thread, pundits will be watching closely to see how those primaries play out.
California, especially, will be pivotal to the House majority, with both parties targeting multiple seats there for potential gains this November.
Specifically, Republicans are looking to flip the seats of Democratic Reps. Josh Harder and Mike Levin, as well as the open seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for Senate. Democrats, however, think they have a good chance of retaining Ms. Porter’s seat while pulling off upsets in the districts of Republican Reps. Kevin Kiley, John Duarte, David Valadao, Mike Garcia, Young Kim, Ken Calvert, and Michelle Steele.
Ms. Porter is just one of three prominent House Democrats vying for the open Senate seat left by the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee are also jockeying for the role, as is Republican baseball legend Steve Garvey. The two candidates who receive the most votes—regardless of party—will advance to the general election in November.
South Texas is another area where both parties are eyeing gains. While Democrats are targeting the 15th District seat of Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz, Republicans have their sights set on the 34th District seat of Democratic Rep. Vincente Gonzalez.
Elsewhere in the state, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, facing multiple primary challengers, will need to receive a majority of the votes to avoid a runoff. And Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, having just lost the Houston mayoral election in December, is also fending off a challenge from former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, five incumbent representatives—three Democrats and two Republicans—have chosen not to seek reelection, leaving the door open for a potential shakeup. The District 1 race for Democratic Rep. Don Davis’s seat is expected to be particularly competitive, as is the gubernatorial race, in which Trump-backed Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is hoping to turn the executive’s office red.
—Samantha Flom
When and Where to Expect Results
Fifteen states and one U.S. territory will hold presidential primary contests on Super Tuesday.
Those voting will include residents of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as the territory of American Samoa.
In Iowa, Democrats will learn the results of their unprecedented vote-by-mail caucus.
Here’s when the results will start pouring in:
6 p.m. ET: Democratic results expected in Iowa.
7 p.m. ET: Polls close in Vermont and Virginia. Republican caucuses convene in Alaska.
7:30 p.m. ET: Polls close in North Carolina.
8 p.m. ET: Polls close in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Most polls close in Texas.
8:30 p.m. ET: Polls close in Arkansas.
9 p.m. ET: Polls close in Colorado and Minnesota. Last polls close in Texas. Republican caucuses convene in Utah.
10 p.m. ET: Polls close in Utah (Democrats only).
11 p.m. ET: Polls close in California. Voting is expected to end in Utah (Republicans only).
Midnight ET: Voting ends in Alaska (Republicans only).
—Samantha Flom
Key Takeaways From Yesterday’s Supreme Court Trump Ballot Ruling
The Supreme Court issued a landmark, unanimous decision on March 4 clarifying that states don’t have authority under the 14th Amendment to disqualify candidates for federal office.
Instead, that power rests squarely with Congress.
The decision also nullified rulings that former President Donald Trump was disqualified in Maine and Illinois and removed the disqualification option from state judges, whose decisions could have been used to justify similar moves in other states.
Going forward, the electoral map is less likely to be the messy “patchwork” that some suggested it would be with state-by-state ballot disqualifications. If Congress somehow passes legislation according to the Court’s guidelines, it could create a system whereby the federal government could challenge President Trump’s and others’ candidacies.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Brien suggested to The Epoch Times that the court was “sketchy” or unclear in how it outlined future congressional action.
“Why does it have to be our Congress, which is partly controlled by one party at a time when that party has put forward a presidential candidate who arguably is an insurrectionist? That’s the real problem … it seems to be favoring Trump in a way that was unnecessary,” he said.
The polarized political environment in Congress substantially lessens the possibility that it will pass anything disqualification-related legislation for President Joe Biden to sign before he leaves office.
The Supreme Court’s ruling left a lot on the table, including whether it even applied to former presidents. In some ways, the court’s ruling was representative of the skepticism the justices exhibited during oral arguments.
Go deeper here.
—Sam Dorman and Jacob Burg
Rep. Boebert Calls Colorado Ballot Disqualification ‘Interfering in an Election’ After SCOTUS Reversal
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) praised the U.S. Supreme Court for its unanimous March 4 ruling that reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s attempt to disqualify former President Donald Trump from its state ballot.
“This is justice for the disenfranchised voters across America,” Ms. Boebert said in a March 4 interview with The Epoch Times.
She emphasized the importance of giving voters the right to decide who is qualified for elected offices.
“In a democracy, you do have the choice to vote for your candidate of choice, and Democrats are the party wanting to remove candidates from our ballots,” Ms. Boebert said.
The congresswoman also noted the political shift in her home state of Colorado, which once flipped between Democrats and Republicans in presidential elections but is now seen as a “solid D” in the Cook Political Report electoral college analysis.
However, that does not mean there is no support for President Trump in the Centennial State.
“I am with the grassroots Coloradans just about every day, and there is tremendous support for President Trump,” Ms. Boebert said.
She also released a statement on the controversy surrounding her 18-year-old son, Tyler, who was recently arrested in connection with multiple alleged felonies.
“As an adult and father, Tyler will take responsibility for his actions and should be held accountable for poor decisions just like any other citizen,” Ms. Boebert said in her statement.
—Nathan Worcester and Jacob Burg
Turnout Expected to be High: NC Poll Worker
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Turnout at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is expected to be “pretty high,” a poll worker told The Epoch Times. The poll worker, whose name could not be given out per the instruction of the chief judge at the polling location, said it will be a repeat of 2020 with the presidents on the ballot in addition to the gubernatorial and attorney general races.
He said early voting was “trickling.” The district is Democrat.
—Jackson Richman
Voting Begins Shortly in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— It is dark outside a polling place in the capital of North Carolina as Super Tuesday is here. What appeared to be poll workers put out a couple of signs outside the polling place at Southview Recreation Center, which is in a Democrat district.
The biggest races in the Tar Heel State are for governor, attorney general, and Congress with the last one consisting of newly gerrymandered districts.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. ET.
Brenda White, a poll worker here, told The Epoch Times that turnout was low during early voting until the end. In average, they get about 100 voters at the location, she said.
—Jackson Richman
Early Voting Turnout Low in Virginia
LEESBURG, Va.—While statewide data isn’t available yet, Loudoun County in northern Virginia has released its turnout of a 45-day early voting period: less than 4 percent. In comparison, the overall early voting for the statewide election last year was over 13 percent.
In Loudoun County, which represents about 5 percent of all registered voters in Virginia, over 5,200 people have voted in the Republican primary. Virginia has an open primary, meaning registered voters of any party affiliation can vote in any primary, although they can only vote in one race.
Polls open at 6 a.m. ET and close at 7 p.m. ET today. Virginia had 6,178,219 registered voters as of Jan. 1, 2024. This year’s primary is the first Virginia presidential primary since former Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam signed the 45-day early voting into law.
Virginia assigns its total 45 delegates on a pro-rated basis; 12 are based on state-wide results and 33 based on results in 11 congressional districts at 3 each.
—Terri Wu
Virginia Super Tuesday in Action
VIENNA, Va.—It’s raining in northern Virginia. When the rain stops in about two hours, we will probably see more traffic at polling stations.
—Terri Wu
