Five states are gearing up for presidential primaries on Tuesday, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump solidifying their support as the presumptive nominees for their respective parties.
Trump is anticipated to secure victories in GOP primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio. Meanwhile, Biden is expected to clinch wins in all states except Florida, where Democrats have opted to award all 224 delegates to him by canceling the primary, a common move for a party with an incumbent seeking reelection.
Aside from the presidential race, other key contests could shed light on the national political landscape. In Ohio, the Republican Senate primary features Trump-backed businessman Bernie Moreno facing off against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians baseball team.
Chicago voters will weigh in on a proposal to levy a one-time real estate tax to fund new homeless services. In California, voters will be moving closer to selecting a replacement for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who resigned his seat after being ousted from Republican leadership.
Both Trump and Biden have been concentrating on the general election, targeting states that could be pivotal in November rather than just those holding primaries. Trump recently held a rally in Ohio, a state that has traditionally leaned Republican but is showing signs of potential competitiveness in 2024.
Biden, on the other hand, is scheduled to visit Nevada and Arizona on Tuesday as part of his campaign efforts.
As the campaign intensifies, both candidates are emphasizing their records in office while painting the other as a threat to the nation. Trump, 77, has been portraying 81-year-old Biden as mentally unfit and a danger to democracy, citing his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his admiration for foreign authoritarian leaders.
Trump is currently facing multiple legal challenges, including criminal and civil cases that could result in fines exceeding $500 million. His first criminal trial, involving allegations of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments, was slated to commence in New York but has been postponed for 30 days due to the emergence of new evidence that his legal team needs time to review.
