Trump Emerges as GOP Primary Victor in New Jersey; Biden Secures Democratic Race in New Jersey and District of Columbia

President Joe Biden emerged victorious in the Democratic primaries held on Tuesday in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., marking some of the final contests on the 2024 primary calendar.

These wins for Biden coincided with a number of states conducting presidential primary contests for both parties, with Donald Trump’s name appearing on the Republican ballots for the first time since his legal conviction on felony charges.

Trump was a candidate in the Republican contests in Montana, New Mexico, and New Jersey. Running unopposed in New Jersey, Trump was declared the winner of that contest.

Newsmax called the outcomes for New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

As the presumptive Democratic nominee, Biden competed in the same states, along with the primary in Washington and in South Dakota.

Republicans in Washington, D.C., held a party-run primary in March, while South Dakota canceled its GOP presidential primary due to Trump being uncontested.

In addition to the presidential races, voters were participating in primary races for various federal, state, and local offices in these states.

Both Trump and Biden are expected to win easily in all of Tuesday’s contests as the final major candidates still in the running.

However, the results could indicate voter concerns about the available choices as the November election approaches.

Trump’s dominance in the primary has been accompanied by continued support from a minority of GOP voters for former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who withdrew from the race in March. The outcome of Tuesday’s contests may reveal whether her supporters will follow her lead.

Biden has faced his own challenges with a protest vote in recent contests from Democratic voters dissatisfied with his handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Some states have organized campaigns on Tuesday to vote “uncommitted” in the Democratic contests. In New Jersey’s primary, “uncommitted” will be an option on the ballot in many counties above the phrase, “Justice For Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!”

After Tuesday, Democrats have two more caucuses on June 8 for Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands to conclude their 2024 primary calendar.

Apart from the presidential contests, the states were also conducting primary elections for federal and local seats on Tuesday, with the Republican Senate race in Montana being one of the most closely watched.

Retired Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy had the support of Trump and national Republican leaders in the race against two other candidates. The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive race that could impact the control of the chamber.

In New Jersey, Democrats were selecting a candidate to replace Sen. Bob Menendez, who is facing federal corruption charges in New York. Menendez opted not to run in the primary and filed paperwork on Monday to run in the general election as an independent candidate.

Rep. Andy Kim secured the Democratic nomination in New Jersey.

On the Republican side, candidates vying for the nomination include businessman Curtis Bashaw, Navy veteran Albert Harshaw, former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy, and Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, who has the endorsement of Trump.

Five Democrats are competing in a primary for New Jersey’s 3rd District, currently held by Kim and expected to remain in Democratic control come November.

In New Mexico, where Democrats hold all three U.S. House seats, the primary in the 1st District was contested. Republicans Louie Sanchez and Steve Jones are competing to challenge incumbent Melanie Stansbury in a Democratic-leaning district centered in Albuquerque.

In D.C., voters were participating in a primary for the city’s nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House. In Iowa, which kicked off the presidential contests in January, voters were selecting nominees in primary elections for local and U.S. House races, including one that could impact the House’s control.

In Iowa’s Des Moines-area 3rd Congressional District, Democrats were choosing a nominee to challenge first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who defeated an incumbent Democrat in 2022.