South Carolina is making headlines as it holds the first round of Democratic primaries. This crucial event in the race to the White House sees President Joe Biden as the clear frontrunner, with Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson also on the ballot. As voters head to the polls, the political landscape is set to shift.
Polls opened bright and early at 7 a.m. EST and will remain open until 7 p.m. However, it’s important to note that as long as voters are in line at closing time, they can still cast their vote. Unlike some states, South Carolina’s primaries aren’t limited to registered voters of a specific party. However, voters are only allowed to participate in one primary.
The anticipation is high as the first round of results is expected shortly after polls close. In the 2020 Democratic primary, Biden emerged victorious over Sen. Bernie Sanders, and the Associated Press reported the results at 7:09 p.m., with nearly 98% of votes counted by midnight. Biden’s lead is substantial, with a 64-percentage point advantage over Phillips, who is projected to receive about 5% of the votes. Williamson trails behind with an estimated 3% of the votes, according to an Emerson College poll conducted last month.
Biden has been actively campaigning in South Carolina, making a visit to Columbia just last month. During his visit, he addressed the crowd, saying, “You’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former president. You’re the reason Donald Trump is a loser.” His strong presence and popularity among Democrats in the state have undoubtedly contributed to his frontrunner status.
With a total of 3.2 million registered voters in South Carolina, there has been a slight decrease from the 3.3 million registered for the 2020 primary. In that election, approximately 540,000 Democratic voters participated, accounting for about 16% of registered voters. These numbers highlight the importance of voter turnout and the potential impact it can have on the results.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on Nevada, where the next Democratic presidential primary will take place on Tuesday. In this upcoming round, voters will have the opportunity to choose both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. South Carolina’s Republican primary is scheduled for February 24, adding another layer of excitement to the political landscape.
The decision to hold South Carolina’s primary first was made by the Democratic National Committee in late 2022. The hope was that high turnout from Black Democratic voters in the state would have a ripple effect on elections across the country. However, recent polling suggests a decline in approval for Biden among Black voters. New Hampshire Democrats went against the wishes of the national party and held their primary as the first on the calendar, resulting in an unsanctioned contest with no delegates awarded by the DNC. Biden, aligning with the DNC’s decision, did not appear on the New Hampshire ballot, making him the second sitting president in U.S. history to be omitted. Despite this, he still received significant write-in support, securing around 64% of the vote from Democrats and achieving a symbolic 44-point win over Phillips.
As South Carolina makes its mark as the first official state for the Democratic presidential primary, it sets the stage for an exciting and closely-watched race to determine who will face off against the Republican nominee in the general election. With Biden leading the pack and strong competition from Phillips and Williamson, every vote counts. The outcome of these primaries in South Carolina will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the Democratic race and have far-reaching implications for the future of American politics.
