Hawaii Republicans are gearing up for their caucuses on Tuesday, with former President Donald Trump emerging as the only major candidate in the presidential nomination race. Following the exit of former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump stands as the frontrunner after securing victories in 14 out of 15 contests on Super Tuesday.
Trump's success on Super Tuesday has brought him close to the required number of delegates for clinching the Republican nomination. However, he will need to secure a significant portion of the delegates up for grabs in Hawaii, Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington to solidify his position.
In the 2016 caucuses, Trump emerged victorious against a more competitive field, garnering 43% of the vote. He outpaced U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who secured 32% of the vote, with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich trailing behind.
Key Details for Election Night
The Hawaii Republican presidential caucuses are scheduled for Tuesday, with voting hours from 6-8 p.m. local time (12-2 a.m. ET).
What to Expect
The Associated Press will provide coverage of the Republican presidential caucuses, featuring candidates such as Trump, Haley, Florida businessman David Stuckenberg, and former candidates Ryan Binkley, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Write-in votes are permitted for candidates registered with the Federal Election Commission.
Eligibility and Delegate Allocation
Caucus participants must be registered voters in Hawaii and members of the Hawaiian Republican Party. While Hawaii does not have party registration, all voters must confirm their party membership with the state party before casting their votes. Same-day voter registration will be allowed on caucus day.
The caucuses will allocate 19 Republican delegates, distributed among various subgroups based on the statewide vote and congressional district results. Candidates are not required to meet a minimum vote percentage to qualify for delegates.
Vote Counting and Turnout
The total votes cast in the last competitive GOP caucuses in 2016 amounted to 15,672, representing about 2% of registered voters at the time. The caucuses do not permit early or absentee voting.
The party anticipates releasing vote counts around 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET) on caucus day.
Looking Ahead
With 125 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and 238 days until the November general election, the political landscape continues to evolve as the nomination process unfolds.
For more updates on the 2024 election, follow the AP's coverage at AP Election 2024.
