As the presidential primary calendar nears its final days, Democrats in Washington, D.C. will have the opportunity to participate in the race for the White House. President Joe Biden is the only major candidate left on the Democratic primary ballot in the city, where he previously received strong support during the 2020 general election.
Following the contests in Washington, D.C., as well as in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota, Biden is set to officially accept the nomination that he unofficially clinched on March 12. Additionally, the city’s primaries will also include elections for Congress and various city offices.
While D.C. will only feature the Democratic presidential primary, Republicans previously held a party-run primary in March. Notably, the city’s primaries will also determine contested races for the city’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House, city council seats, as well as the unofficial shadow U.S. House and Senate seats, which advocate for D.C. representation and statehood.
One of the key highlights of the primary is the participation of noncitizens in voting for city offices, excluding federal positions like the presidency. This has been a contentious issue, with Republicans in the U.S. House attempting to block the voting law from taking effect for Tuesday’s primary.
The Democratic primaries in Washington, D.C. will see incumbent races as well as an open-seat contest in the Ward 7 city council Democratic primary. With 10 candidates vying for the seat left vacant by former Mayor Vincent Gray, the outcome of this race is expected to be closely watched.
As the primary day approaches, voters in the city will have the opportunity to cast their ballots in various races, including the Democratic presidential primary, U.S. delegate to Congress, city council, shadow senator, and shadow representative. The allocation of delegates in D.C. follows the national party’s standard rules, with candidates needing to meet certain thresholds for delegate qualification.
President Biden is anticipated to be the favorite in the D.C. primary, with no significant challengers remaining in the race. The results of the primary will provide insights into the incumbents’ re-election prospects and the competitive Ward 7 city council race.
The Associated Press will be reporting the vote totals and declaring winners in the various races based on the outcome of the primary. The voter turnout, advance vote, and vote-counting process in D.C. are also factors to watch as the primary day unfolds.
In the lead-up to the November general election, the primary results in Washington, D.C. will offer a glimpse into the political landscape and the candidates’ standing as the race for the White House intensifies. Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2024 election for the latest updates and developments in this crucial election year.
