Trump Eyes Super Tuesday Sweep Against Haley

The Associated Press called the race for President Biden at 6 p.m. ET.

Republicans held their Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 where former President Donald Trump won 20 delegates with 51 percent of the vote. Tennessee Student Fights Elements Alone for Local Campaign

NASHVILLE, Tenn—Jared is a freshman at Belmont University who has been out in front of the campus’ voting precinct since 8 a.m on Super Tuesday, and he told The Epoch Times that he does not plan to leave until the polls close.

He said he’s stood alone outside the Curb Event Center and watched a slow stream of voters showing up.

Belmont has reportedly been a very liberal and politically active campus.

“It’s off and on,” he said. “Every 10 to 15 minutes you might have one, you might have two, you might have three. It depends.”

The Nashville native said he expected the busiest time for his location to be between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. but expects it to get slower in the afternoon closer to closing time.

While primary focus of March 5’s poll is the presidential primary, it is also the last day for Tennessee voters to cast their ballot for various county positions. And Jared is out showing support for a family friend running for property assessor, Tomesia Day.

“I chose this candidate because she’s qualified for the job,” he said. “She has the highest certification … and she’s been under the current administration, which is the other candidate. And so she’s trying to make a change.”

Polling stations in Davidson County close at 7 p.m.

–T.J. Muscaro

Biden Supporter Says She Wishes He Would Make Way For a ‘Better’ Candidate

FORT SMITH Ark.— Residents Karen and David Ewing were quick to say they were voting for President Joe Biden in the primary at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith.

However, Ms. Ewing said she does not feel good about his prospects of winning the general election because of former President Donald Trump’s candidacy.

When asked if she was concerned about President Biden potentially dropping out of the presidential race, Ms. Ewing said she “wished he would and get somebody better,” for the Democrat ticket.

Both voters confirmed that they would gladly vote for candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,, with Mr. Ewing saying he was pleased that Mr. Kennedy is “younger” and “a little more progressive,” as well as not having already served for multiple decades in public office.

—Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Arkansas Voting in District 3 ‘Smooth Sailing’

FORT SMITH Ark.—Election judge Linda Arnold told The Epoch Times from the polling location at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith that—aside from a “little bump” with machine voting early in the day—it has been smooth sailing for Super Tuesday.

In addition to two weeks of early voting, Sebastian County, Arkansas, with all 16 of its precincts, had brought in around 5,880 voters by mid-afternoon.

Fort Smith is part of Congressional District 3, where Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is being challenged by state Sen. Clint Penzo, who hopes to take his position as the Republican nominee and meet Democrat Caitlin Draper in the general election in November.

—Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Dean Phillips Supporter Explains Choice

BOSTON, MA—Despite the rainy weather, soon-to-be 89-year-old Ervin Philipps, with the help of his walker, walked down to the Nazzaro Community Center on N. Bennet Street in Boston’s North End to vote in the Massachusetts presidential primaries.

Mr. Philipps, who is battling Parkinson’s Disease, is among the state’s more than 3 million independent voters. He voted for Democratic candidate Dean Phillips. Besides having a great last name, he joked, Mr. Philipps said he voted for the Minnesota congressman over President Joe Biden because he “seems smart, well spoken, and doesn’t lie.”

“Biden is the old Democrat machine,” said Mr. Philipps who voted for Biden in the 2020 election, “he doesn’t excite me and he doesn’t have any charisma.”

At the core of his candidate choice is President Biden’s continued support of Israel’s bombing in Gaza. Mr. Philipps said he supports Israel and understands, at least initially, why Israelis launched a counterattack against terror group Hamas, but feels Biden is “way overdue” in pushing for a ceasefire. Mr. Philipps said he has always voted independent.

Undeclared voters, which account for nearly 70 percent of registered voters in Massachusetts, are expected to play a large role in the outcome of the GOP primary between former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the largely Democratic New England state.

—Alice Giordano

Immigration Is the Continuing Theme for Oklahoma Trump Supporters

EUFAULA, Okla.—Sooner State voters were hammering on illegal immigration and the economy as their reasons for voting for former President Donald Trump in the March 5 Super Tuesday primary election.

Glenda Owens, 74, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, told The Epoch Times said she supports immigration as an overall positive thing for the country.

“But just come here legally,” she said.

She believes other candidates would probably like to take a similar stand but are intimidated by the media.

“They don’t want their laundry out there,” she said. “At least he’s got the gall to speak up.”

—Michael Clements

Democrat Voter Says Taxes Are High Enough in California

MERCED, Calif.—One voter in California said he always votes for the Democratic Party, but he is against raising taxes.

“I make a middle income, and I just don’t want to have any more taxes to pay,” Aaron Pangelina, 41, of Merced, told The Epoch Times after voting.

He also said the war in Gaza is troubling and that fake videos and content on social media platforms are causing problems for voters.

“There’s a lot of misinformation going around on social media, and it is easy to sway someone’s vote.”

—Travis Gillmore

Older Maine Voters Look to Trump Amid High Crime and Homelessness, Says Caregiver

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine–Elderly voters in Maine are feeling a higher level of danger than they have known in their lifetimes as the migrant crisis brings homelessness and crime to their communities; many of them feel that former President Donald Trump is the candidate best qualified to address these issues, says a young local voter.

Lydia Holmes, a 26-year-old caregiver who lives in South Portland, says the transformation wrought by the border crisis is like nothing she or other Maine residents have seen, and the political consequences will be dramatic indeed, even if much of Maine remains solidly blue.

“Trump is a great candidate, I believe, but there are some areas of Maine that are very liberal, like the Portland area, and that may put a dent in that side of it. But this has really inspired my interest in local politics. I was thanked very much by the older crowd for being here [to vote] and volunteering my time as a younger person,” Ms. Holmes told The Epoch Times.

As migrants pour in from the border without a social infrastructure in place to accommodate them, Ms. Holmes described a steady erosion in the quality of life in a state long associated with tranquility and low crime.

“I live in South Portland, but I’ve also lived in Wyndham, and I’ve noticed quite a difference, definitely, with the migrant crisis, and the homeless population that we have is quite a problem. I was sitting near people today who were talking about how Brunswick is starting to have issues with that, as well as Portland.

“ I’ve just heard that an old man was carjacked by a young teen. That, in my 26 years of living here, hasn’t started until the migrants have moved into our towns. Also, a lot of robbing on the streets, people getting beat up and left, and it’s crazy,” she said.

“It’s unfortunate, but I’m hopeful that we can do things to change it.”

For many elderly voters, the issue is particularly acute. They are often highly vulnerable to crime and unaccustomed to such levels of lawlessness.

“There’s a very high elderly population here as well. they can’t defend themselves as well, they get hurt very easily, what with people breaking into their houses. It’s so different from when I was little, we felt safe keeping our door unlocked, but now we don’t,” Ms. Holmes said.

Crime is not the only issue on Maine voters’ minds on Super Tuesday. Economic issues, and the cost of living, are also paramount.

“My age group cannot afford to move out of their parents’ house, generally. it’s near impossible unless you’re working three full time jobs, which no one can truly do. and I think that Trump has a very good outlook on those things and is able to make things move more in the government than they have recently,” said Ms. Holmes.

–Michael Washburn

19-Year-Old Tennessee Republican Eyes Delegate Post

Mya Conrad will be casting her first presidential primary vote. She will also get the chance to vote for herself as a state delegate.

The 19-year-old Economy major at Belmont is one of several active young Republicans under 30 who are throwing their names into the state delegate race. If elected, she will join the Tennessee delegation at the Republican National Convention.

“Everybody’s been telling me I’m the youngest on the ballot right now,” she told The Epoch Times the night before the election. “And I think that that’s really cool to have that opportunity.”

In order to run as a delegate, she had to obtain at least 25 signatures from registered voters who would be voting for the positions. She also had to file a declaration of candidacy in which she certified her party affiliation, intent to attend the convention, and commitment to a presidential candidate.

Ms. Conrad is committed to former President Donald Trump, and she also had to acquire and file a written consent form from the candidate.

Delegates who commit to a candidate make the promise to vote for him or her through two rounds of voting before being free to side with the majority’s pick.

“All my family is excited,” she said. “All my friends are excited and rooting for me. And I’m very excited for where this election takes us, yet very scared at the same time.”

Whether or not she earns a delegate position, Ms. Conrad sees this as the latest step in a political career where her strategy is to “say yes to everything” and plant roots in Nashville. She currently interns for Sen. Marsha Blackburn and has worked with Turning Point USA.

She also described the struggle in mobilizing her conservative peers.

I have so many friends who are closeted conservatives at Belmont, she said. People are too scared to come out as conservative, and the only way things will change is if their friends aren’t going to hate them for coming out as conservative. It’s a safety and popularity thing.

—T.J. Muscaro

Colorado Primary–Castle Rock Is Not Entertained

A sign rather far from the entrance to the Kirk Hall polling place in Castle Rock, Colorado, in Douglas County, orders visitors to avoid “electioneering within 100 feet.”

It cites Colorado Statute 1-13-174, which “includes campaigning for or against any candidate who is on the ballot or any ballot issue or ballot question that is on the ballot.”

Though signage did not clearly indicate it, election workers at the site were enforcing the 100-foot prohibition against media to keep them just outside the parking lot, where voters were entering and leaving.

Laura Skirde, communications project manager for the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, told The Epoch Times via email that, as of 12:30 p.m., 100 voters had shown up for in-person voting at the site on March 5.

There were ballot drop boxes nearby in Castle Rock and other parts of the county, but not at Kirk Hall.

One of the in-person voters, John B., told The Epoch Times he voted in the Republican primary for a candidate who has already dropped out, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“It’s not a protest vote against Trump or anybody like that. I just felt he deserved my vote,” he said, adding that he would vote for President Trump in the general.

He believes Nikki Haley doesn’t stand a chance.

Gary Moses, who voted in the Democratic primary for President Biden, was less willing to count out Ms. Haley.

“I look forward to her continuing and sending a message about Donald Trump because we couldn’t have any better person out there helping the Democrats,” he said.

“This is a closed ballot here in Colorado, but I would have crossed over and voted for her,” the registered Democrat said.

https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2024/03/05/id5601248-20240305_124322.jpg

He lamented that the Republican Party no longer had “McCains out there” before adding that he had not voted for the late senator in his run against Barack Obama in 2008.

Unsurprisingly, he was clear he could not see himself voting for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who will be switching to the Fourth District from the Third District in her upcoming June primary. Castle Rock is in the Fourth District.

“I think she’s awful,” he said.

Kristy Chadwick, who voted for President Trump, was more positive about the prospect of supporting the newcomer to the district.

“I need to maybe look a little bit deeper, but I would if she’s Republican and conservative and shares my views,” she said.

When she learned Ms. Boebert received an endorsement from President Trump, she said, “That probably seals it.”

The grandmother of 11 told The Epoch Times she was sad to see Colorado trend toward Democrats and away from Republicans.

“I hope it turns back,” she said.

—Nathan Worcester

Utah Republicans Watching, Waiting to Caucus Tonight

Utah Republicans are watching voters cast ballots in primaries across 14 states as they wait their turn to participate in the Super Tuesday GOP presidential preference poll tonight.

More than 100,000 registered Republican voters are expected to gather at about 2,500 caucus sites beginning at 7 p.m. RMT tonight to cast ballots for either former President Donald Trump or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Utah Republican Party Chairman Robert Axson told The Epoch Times.

“I think it’s gonna be a very good night for the Republican Party of Utah with very strong support, a lot of participation, and turnout,” he said.

“And I also think it’s going to be a strong night for the candidates, both our state candidates who are relying on delegates to be elected but also these two presidential candidates that still exist in the race.”

Precinct-based caucus sites open at 6 p.m., and voting starts at 7 p.m. The first set of votes will select delegates for the April 27 state GOP convention. Of about 4,000 delegate candidates, 40 ultimately will be selected to attend July’s National Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The final votes will be the presidential nomination. Caucuses cannot conclude their presidential preference polls before 8 p.m.

In the days prior to today’s caucuses, few gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislature candidates actively campaigned, pausing to await the selection of delegates in tonight’s votes.

As soon as Super Tuesday is in the books, the day after—Dash Wednesday—begins the sprint to Utah’s June 25 general primary with campaigns set to immediately gear-up and hit the stump trail.

“That’s true. Absolutely, in the days after” the presidential caucus, Mr. Axson said, noting beginning March 6, candidates will have “a better idea of, at least, where the delegates are looking at going and how that could affect some of the state races.”

For state lawmakers running in 2024 elections, a Utah statute prevents them from fundraising while in session. The state Legislature concluded its 45-day 2024 session on March 2, allowing state lawmakers to make up for lost time and money over the weekend in private events with donors before gearing up campaigns by the end of this week.

“We’re off, hustling along because time is limited,” state Sen. Mike Kennedy, a Republican, who is running for Congress, told The Epoch Times on March 3. “And so, it’s fundraising and delegate calls and meetings and visits” before Super Tuesday.

But beginning Dash Wednesday, he said, “We’ll be on the campaign trail all the time.”

Utah Democrats are also caucusing tonight after participating in a day-long state-run primary. There are less than 300,000 registered Democrats and nearly 1 million GOP voters in deep-red Utah.

—John Haughey

Media Set Up for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Event Tonight

MAR-A-LAGO, Fla.–Just after 1 p.m. Eastern, event organizers escorted dozens of credentialed news crews into the Grand Ballroom where former President Donald Trump will take the stage this evening at a “watch party” for the Super Tuesday election results.

Videographers and reporters from as far away as Japan assembled on platforms at the rear of the room, while writers and photographers set up laptops behind them. Some told The Epoch Times that they came from Japan; others were broadcasting in Spanish to report on the Republican frontrunner for the presidential nomination.

Some media also said they had been shut out of previous “watch parties” that were held in other states that have already held their presidential preference contests earlier this year.

When the program begins later today, about 300 people will be seated in rows of golden chairs set up near the stage; a small section of about a half-dozen chairs in the front row was cordoned off with a red velvet rope, apparently reserved for President Trump’s family or other special guests.

Another area to the left of the stage is sectioned off with patriotic bunting to accommodate people who will be standing. A separate section behind the golden chairs is set with 10 round cocktail tables, draped with white tablecloths.

The Grand Ballroom is reserved for special occasions only, the former president said at a recent speech here.

Florida voters are not heading to the polls today; instead, they will cast ballots on March 19. So it’s unclear why the campaign has not stated why the former president chose Mar-a-Lago as the watch party site.

Regardless of the reason, it is the most convenient for President Trump since he makes his home here.

—Janice Hisle

Sen. Sinema Not Seeking Reelection in Arizona

Arizona’s independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced on March 5 that she would not seek another term, throwing Democrats’ narrow majority in the Senate into further uncertainty.

Ms. Sinema, 47, was elected to the Senate in 2018 as a Democrat. Although she left the party in December 2022, she continues to caucus with the Democrats, gifting them their slim 51-49 vote advantage.

Still, Ms. Sinema’s willingness to vote with Republicans on certain issues has often put her at odds with Democrats.

“Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year,” she said.

Candidates vying for Ms. Sinema’s seat include Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, who ran for governor in 2022.

In her response, Ms. Lake said Mr. Gallego is the candidate with radical views.

“Ruben Gallego would be a radical departure from the representation we have had in Arizona,” she said. “He votes with Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, supported the Iran Deal, sanctuary cities, defunding the police, and voting rights for everyone pouring across the border. He even called the border wall ‘stupid.’

“Arizonans will not be fooled by Gallego. I will be a voice for all Arizonans,” she added, wishing Ms. Sinema “the best in her next chapter.”

—Samantha Flom

Trump Supporter: Richmond Rally Was ‘Really Energizing’

LOVETTSVILLE, Va.—Amelia P. and Heather W. have been campaigning for former President Donald Trump in multiple locations in Loudoun County on March 5. One of their stops was at a polling station at Lovettsville Elementary School.

“I want to remind all our like-minded friends that they’ve got to get out and show strong support for Trump and that they are in good company. We’re all rooting for him,” Heather told The Epoch Times.

Amelia attended President Trump’s rally in Richmond on March 2. The event was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from this part of Loudoun County. She said the rally was “excellent.”

“The room was completely packed; the enthusiasm was high. He gave a great speech, and I think was really energizing to supporters,” Amelia said, adding that the economy and the border issues in President Trump’s speech resonated the most.

—Terri Wu

Oklahoma Couple Sees Trump as Country’s Only Hope

McALESTER, Okla.—Ron and Sandi Compton were quick to name their top choice for president when asked outside a polling station on Super Tuesday.“Donald Trump,” Mr. Compton told The Epoch Times on March 5, 2024.

“This country’s in a mess, and he’s the only one I think can do anything about it.”

The couple, who are in their early 70s, said they believe former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is staying in the race in case President Trump is disqualified for some reason.

“It’s all ‘Trumped’ up charges,” Mr. Compton quipped.

Mr. Compton said he will vote Republican regardless.

—Michael Clements

Haley Supporter: I Don’t See a Path Forward, But I’ll Try to Do My Part

LOVETTSVILLE, Va.—Rex Shipley voted for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican primary today.

“I don’t like either of the other two candidates. I haven’t seen a lot of good performance at either one of them,” Mr. Shipley told The Epoch Times, referring to the presumptive nominee on both sides: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. “So I think we need someone new in office.”

Mr. Shipley knows that Ms. Haley’s campaign is dwindling down, but still, he said: “I don’t see a path forward. But I’m gonna try to do my part.”

He asserted that if President Trump became the Republican nominee, he would vote for President Biden in the general election. He said he’s a registered Republican but votes independently.

He thinks that Ms. Haley and President Trump have similar policies but said they would have different approaches and styles. “I’m not one that believes the president should skirt the law in any form,” he added, referring to President Trump’s legal battles.

—Terri Wu

California Voter Says Veterans Need Support

MERCED, Calif.–National security issues are top of mind for many voters in California, with one veteran telling The Epoch Times that more needs to be done to help those that serve to protect the nation.

“We need to take care of our veterans,” said Lynda Gates, 62, of Los Baños, California.

“We need to feel safe, and our veterans need to feel good about what they’re doing.”

—Travis Gillmore

Biden Supporter: ‘He’s Doing a Good Job’

LOVETTSVILLE, Va.–Julie McClanahan, 65, a retired Loudoun County employee, voted for President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary today.

“I think he’s doing a good job. I think anything but Trump at this point,” she told The Epoch Times. “I’m tired of the old age thing, and I’m young myself. It’s like, ‘I don’t know what they’re trying to do.’”

“Joe Biden’s done a good job considering what he was handed,” she added, listing President Biden’s infrastructure investment in the Inflation Reduction Act and position on abortion as the main reason for her endorsement.

“He’s a steady hand right now. I think we need that.”

—Terri Wu

Migrant Crisis, Cost of Living in Maine Open Up a Blue State to Trump’s Appeal

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine–Former President Donald Trump’s prospects in Maine are better than they have been in years, even though the Portland region and other parts of the state remain solidly blue, says Marcayla Amadei, a local political consultant and organizer.

Ms. Amadei and her friends have no illusions about President Trump winning a metropolitan region that went decisively for Democrats in the last two presidential contests. But in other parts of the state, frustration, rage, and hopelessness over the border crisis and the cost of living have fueled a groundswell in the former president’s favor, she said.

“I would think that, for South Portland specifically, the vote is almost sunk completely. I don’t like to be a Debbie Downer, but I’ve always lived there, and I feel like we’re able to make up more ground in surrounding communities, further from the coast,” Ms. Amadei told The Epoch Times

“There has been a ton of response of independents and Democrats across the state saying they’re going to vote Republican, at least at the Senate level. But we’ve also had some luck with voters planning to vote at the presidential level,” she said.

In the end, arguments over bathrooms and the composition of sports teams are not really germane to the issues on the minds of Super Tuesday voters, Ms. Amadei said.

“We all have different views on culture war issues, but at the end of the day, we’re all rolling our eyes and getting frustrated at the gas pump. One bag of groceries costs $60 these days. Young people, and I’m 27, can’t even find affordable studio apartments. They’re building apartments for migrants, but we feel we’re getting spit in the face.

“A lot of my friends aren’t very political, but we feel like we’re on the train and it’s moving, yet the light at the end of the tunnel keeps moving back. It’s hard to feel like we’re going to settle down and have kids in this situation,” Ms. Amadei said.

Turnout for Republican candidates is likely to be higher this year than in the past, partly in reaction to issues that have thrust a state long thought of as a quiet hinterland into the center of national controversies.

“2016 was my first election. When you grow up in Maine, it’s very sheltering here, and now we’ve been in the news cycle more in the last few months than I’ve ever seen, with the Lewiston mass shooting and trying to keep Trump off the ballot. I don’t deal with the migrant issue as much, but from 2016 to now, there’s been such an influx, there’s such a strong focus in the state,” she said.

Ms. Amadei said she spent last summer in Kansas City and marveled at efforts there to build new homes and schools. In Maine, heroic efforts are underway to accommodate migrants from the southern border while the concerns of longtime residents go ignored.

“Another really big thing about Maine, when it comes to the migrant conversation, is that we have an aging workforce; we have such an old population, we need to replace our workforce. But the politicians, they’re not trying to keep young people, and we can find cheaper housing out of state. My friends who are not political at all, they’re just feeling frustrated, like we’re being ignored,” Ms. Amadei said.

“That’s the big thing with the migrant issue. There’s such a big focus on it, with all the virtue signaling, and we just want our government to say it wants us to stay in the state.”

—Michael Washburn

California Voter Wants to See Change

MERCED, Calif.–Primary voters are trickling into the fairgrounds in Merced, California, with one local resident telling The Epoch Times that inflation is one of the main reasons he came to vote.

“We need change,” said Joaquin Fernandez, 52, a realtor in Merced.

“This current government is just printing money and making everything expensive, and that is just going to damage the economy.”

He said the issues stem from local and federal policies.

“The school system is really bad,” Mr. Fernandez said. “And nobody wants to work … because they can make more on unemployment.”

–Travis Gillmore

A Small Showing at Voting Location in North Carolina

GREENSBORO, N.C.–A Greensboro senior center has gotten at least 110 voters in the primary, according to poll workers.

The GOP primary in what is the state’s Sixth Congressional District is competitive and includes a handful of candidates such as former Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) and former football player Bo Hines, who lost a congressional race in 2022.

—Jackson Richman

America Needs to Return to Kinder Brand of Politics

Dallas, Texas—Alex Martinez of Dallas voted for President Joe Biden in the Democrat primary in Texas on Super Tuesday, but he lamented the polarization of politics.

He said the lack of tolerance for different viewpoints needs to improve, and it’s up to “those at the top” to change the dynamic and tone down the rhetoric in politics.

Mr. Martinez said that when leaders are silent about factions who disrupt and malign their opponents, that sends the wrong message.

Besides President Biden, Mr. Martinez said he voted for Roland Gutierrez as the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate to challenge Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

Mr. Martinez said he met Mr. Gutierrez, a Texas senator, and voted for him instead of Congressman Colin Allred, the leading Democrat in the race, who represents parts of Dallas.

While their position on the issues is similar, Mr. Martinez said he met Mr. Gutierrez in person and feels he is more personable than Mr. Allred, who is the frontrunner.

—Darlene McCormick Sanchez

Ballot Drop-Offs and Prairie Dogs in Lakewood, Colorado

In the hills west of Denver, a lone prairie dog was making an alarm call to his unseen peers. After a minute or two, he dipped back into his burrow—one of many in a large colony at Red Rocks Community College on Super Tuesday.

Another group of social creatures—human beings—were engaged in their own solitary-yet-social activity in a nearby parking lot.

Every few minutes, locals drove up to a ballot drop box to vote. It was much more active than inside the polling place.

Curtis, the supervisor of the Red Rocks Voter Service and Polling Center, told The Epoch Times there had been just a handful of voters inside compared to the flurry of activity so far.

“Most of the people we see come in because their ballot was spoiled or it wasn’t forwarded because they have a P.O. box or they’ve moved—and then other people, it’s first time voting, so they come in and register to vote,” he said.

Jon Shay dropped off his ballot in the parking lot. He told The Epoch Times he voted for Nikki Haley.

“I really don’t feel comfortable with another Trump presidency,” he said, adding that he had previously voted for Bush, McCain, and Romney.

Mr. Shay, a real estate investor, said that the market was worse now than a few years ago, which he attributed to interest rates. He was wary of chalking up economic conditions to any specific politician or party.

“It’s a pretty complex issue,” he said.

Shea VanKeuren, a stay-at-home mother, dropped off her ballot while walking her dog, Saba.

“She has to vote too!” Ms. VanKeuren joked about her dog.

Ms. VanKeuren, who wouldn’t share who she voted for, said women’s rights were among her top priorities.

“I have two young daughters that I want to ensure when they get to an age to make the choices about their body, they get to make those choices for themselves and not have other people tell them what to do,” she told The Epoch Times.

Another voter who was wary of sharing his choice, Dustin Pfaff, 36, dropped off his ballot inside.

Mr. Pfaff, a former land surveyor who is now a student at the community college, told The Epoch Times that he is most concerned about “the divide that we see in our country.”

“We just need to approach things politically together instead of dividing,” he said.

—Nathan Worcester

A Look at the Primary Ballots in Colorado

—Nathan Worcester

Haley Not the Right Choice for Republican Party, Says Candidate for Maine Legislature

CUMBERLAND, Maine—Nikki Haley lacks broad appeal within the Republican Party, not to mention Donald J. Trump’s strengths as a unifier and, where necessary, a tough political brawler who is not afraid to offend received opinions and get things done.

That’s the view of Scott Jordan, a salesman and District 110 candidate for the Maine state legislature, which includes his town, Cumberland, a part of the blue-leaning Portland metropolitan area. The District 110 incumbent Jordan hopes to unseat is a Democrat, Stephen Moriarty, and Republicans have rarely held the seat in the last two decades, Mr. Jordan lamented.

The Trump-Haley contest has implications for Republican unity in his state and district, Mr. Jordan believes. Mr. Jordan does not believe that Ms. Haley has adopted the right tone or struck the right note in a party too riven by infighting to push back effectively against the far-left agenda that some Democrats espouse.

“Personally, I voted for Donald Trump over Nikki Haley. When Donald Trump first appointed her, and, absolutely, right now in this race, I do not believe she’s the right choice. When I saw her interviews after the New Hampshire primary, and how she drew ‘first blood’ with Donald Trump, I just thought it wasn’t a good look for her, and she isn’t the right for the party right now,” Mr. Jordan told The Epoch Times.

Mr. Jordan described President Trump’s frequent dalliance with controversy as a blessing, though not an unmixed one at election time. His political acumen and outspokenness make him effective at a time when voters are crying out for solutions to the border crisis and other issues.

“Donald Trump has a lot going on, but he’s willing to take on these fights where I don’t think other folks could handle what he’s going through. I’m running for the legislature for House district number 110 here in Maine, and there are a lot of folks concerned with where the country is right now. A number of folks, myself included, feel like there’s a lot of infighting within our party, and if we could set aside egos and focus on other problems and constituents, we would be a lot better off today,” Mr. Jordan said.

“The Democratic Party, they’re learning our clocks. We could make a difference, we could beat them in a lot of these races if people put aside their egos and find middle ground where the pendulum has swung so far left,” he added.

—Michael Washburn

A Vote for Nikki Haley is a Vote Against Donald Trump

DALLAS, Texas-—Voters stood in line to cast a ballot at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, one of the busiest polling locations in the city.

Shannon McKinnon of Dallas is a registered Republican but often votes Democratic.

Today he came out to vote for Nikki Haley “to get out Trump.”

Even if the former United Nations ambassador doesn’t win Super Tuesday in Texas or elsewhere, Mr. McKinnon wants her to stay in the race.

“I think this time around, I’m a never Trumper,” he said. “He’s a horrible human being.”

Mr. McKinnon was equally unimpressed with President Trump’s policies, even popular ones such as securing the U.S. southern border.

He said Trump got nowhere near finishing the wall and Mexico didn’t pay for it.

Age isn’t a factor when it comes to President Joe Biden’s ability to serve in the White House, he said.

That’s because those who work with the current president say his cognitive abilities are fine, which is good enough for Mr. McKinnon.

—Darlene McCormick Sanchez

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

Franklin Voter Chooses Trump, Says Haley ‘Has No Chance’

FRANKLIN, Tenn.—Chris Russo spoke with The Epoch Times after casting his primary vote alongside his wife, Diana, and made it clear that he was all-in on former President Donald Trump.

“He seems to be the only politician who can stick to his word,” he said. “He does what he says he’s going to do.”

The biggest concerns he sees facing America include illegal immigration, the devaluation of currency, social security and health care, and stopping endless wars.

Mr. Russo also told The Epoch Times that he could see Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an interesting choice for President Trump’s vice president pick due to his unique ideas on how to fix other domestic problems like those involving vaccines and “the poison they put in our food.”

However, that interest is not enough to dissuade him from supporting President Trump in November.

“I don’t know if he’s 100 percent trustworthy,” he said of RFK Jr. “I tend to stay away from kind of those legacy candidates [like] the Bushes, the Clintons, the Kennedys.”

Nikki Haley, on the other hand, has no chance, according to Mr. Russo.

“That woman has no chance,” he said. “I mean, she’s in it to sabotage the election. Obviously, she’s hoping that the Supreme Court would kick Trump off the ballot. That didn’t happen at this point. Now, like, I don’t know what the point of her being in it is.”

He also rejected the idea she had a chance in 2028.

“She’s completely sabotaged herself and shown her true colors,” he said. “I mean, most of her campaign money came from Democrats. So I can’t imagine her ever getting the support of the Republicans again.”

The Russos cast their ballots at one of the 20 Williamson County schools turned into precincts today. Due to predictions of heavy turnouts, the county got permission from the Tennessee Department of Education to use an “inclement weather day” and give kids the day off.

–T.J. Muscaro

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 who lives 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

—Lawrence Wilson

Voter in California Says Country Needs Trump’s Leadership

—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

—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.

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.

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.

—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

Original News Source Link – Epoch Times

Running For Office? Conservative Campaign Consulting – Election Day Strategies!