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WASHINGTON — On Super Tuesday, voters in 16 states and one territory will cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential primaries.
Here's why the day matters — and why it looks a little different this year.
In addition to the presidential primaries this Tuesday, some states are also choosing who should run for governor or senator for their state, and some district attorneys, too.
Democrats and Republicans vote on who they want to run for president and other offices. And then once those votes are tallied, delegates are awarded.
Delegates are people chosen to represent their community at their political party's presidential nominating convention. The delegates select the candidate to represent their party on the November ballot.
Candidates need to win a majority of them to pick up their party's nomination. No other date has more of those delegates at stake than on Super Tuesday.
On the Republican side, 854 of 2,429 delegates — more than 35% — are up for grabs. About 36%, or 1,420 delegates, are in play for Democrats.
No candidate will become the presumptive nominee as a result of Tuesday's primaries. The earliest that could happen is March 12 for former President Donald Trump and March 19 for President Joe Biden.
Super Tuesday can demonstrate the strength of a campaign moving forward.
For example, in 2020, Biden was widely counted out of the race after dismal showings in early primaries. Then he won the South Carolina primary. A few days later, he mounted a swift and stunning comeback on Super Tuesday. He went on to win 10 of the 14 states. Other candidates dropped out of the race after his wins.
This year there's less of a chance for a surprise. Biden is the incumbent and the only major candidate for Democrats. On the Republican side, Donald Trump has won nearly every primary so far and is expected to win big on Tuesday, too.
Nikki Haley is still in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee, and she won the District of Columbia primary. But she's facing tough contests in states where she's struggled to win support. Biden is far and away leading over Democratic challengers Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson.
