President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump secured resounding victories in state primaries on Tuesday, solidifying their positions as the presumptive nominees for their respective parties. However, a notable protest vote emerged in both camps, underscoring lingering discontent among some voters.
In Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump dominated the primaries, with Mr. Trump garnering at least 75 percent of the vote in each state by 11 p.m. However, former Republican candidate Nikki Haley, who withdrew from the race last month, still managed to capture around 10 percent of the vote in all four states, signaling dissatisfaction within the GOP regarding Mr. Trump’s candidacy.
On the Democratic side, Mr. Biden secured over 80 percent of the vote in every primary by 11 p.m. Despite his strong showing, activists encouraged a protest vote to express disapproval of his handling of the conflict in Gaza. The “uncommitted” ballot option received between 8 and 15 percent of the vote in states where it was available, with Rhode Island seeing nearly 15 percent of voters opting for this choice.
Notably, New York did not offer a write-in option, prompting organizers of the “uncommitted” movement to urge Democratic primary voters to leave their ballots blank instead. While blank ballots will not be included in the initial results, Mr. Biden still garnered over 90 percent of the reported votes in the state.
In the Republican primary in New York, Mr. Trump maintained a strong lead with over 80 percent of the vote, while Ms. Haley secured 13 percent and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie received more than 4 percent. Despite dropping out of the race earlier this year, Christie’s presence on the ballot indicates a continued divergence of opinions within the Republican Party.
The results of these primaries highlight the ongoing divisions and dissent within both parties, underscoring the challenges that lie ahead for Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump as they head towards the general election.
