Missouri and Louisiana are gearing up to hold presidential primaries this Saturday, providing President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump with additional opportunities to secure delegates in their respective parties. While Biden will be featured in the Democratic primary in both states, Republicans will only participate in Louisiana, as the Missouri GOP already conducted caucuses on March 2.
Despite the lack of suspense in these races, with both Biden and Trump having already secured their party nominations, the primaries are being closely monitored by political observers for voter turnout and indications of protest votes.
Within the Democratic primary, some liberals are expressing their discontent over Israel's conflict with Hamas, which escalated following an attack by the militant group on Oct. 7. The ongoing violence has resulted in a significant number of casualties, predominantly women and children, prompting protests led by Arab American communities in Michigan that have now spread to other states.
On the Republican side, Trump remains a dominant figure and has secured his third consecutive nomination. However, he faces dissent from individuals concerned about the legal challenges he is confronting and those critical of his presidency, particularly in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection incited by his supporters and fueled by baseless claims of election fraud.
The upcoming primary in Missouri marks the Democratic Party's first party-run presidential contest since a new law came into effect in August 2022. In contrast, Louisiana's primaries are taking place nearly four years after the state became the first to postpone its primaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
