With the presidential election coming up in November, it seems that candidates are getting more and more ruthless in their campaigns. Things are heating up not only on the debate floor but also within the homes of ordinary Americans as they argue about why the candidate they support is the best. Often, in their attempts to prove the superiority of whoever they are loyal to, people reference performance in primary elections. “Hillary is obviously better because she won that primary” and “Cruz’s win in that caucus proves he’s gaining a lead” are phrases that we often hear.
But what exactly is the role of primaries and caucuses in the American political process?
Regardless of whether a primary or caucus is used, both determine how many of a state’s delegates will support each candidate. These delegates go to their party’s National Convention in the summer, where the candidate with a majority of delegates becomes their party’s candidate for the general election in November.
Essentially, states who use primaries hold a direct vote. Most of these states hold separate votes within each party, but some states have open primaries in which you can vote outside your party. On the other hand, states that use caucuses are a little more complicated. These states hold small local meetings in which citizens discuss the candidates’ flaws and attributes, and people can switch who they support throughout the night until a final count is made.
Felder says “In primaries, there is efficiency, and everyone’s vote counts. Caucuses can be seen as more time-consuming, and harder to have your voice heard in. But in caucuses, you also get to think more in depth about candidates and hear different viewpoints before you pledge your allegiance to one [person] or the other.”
Ultimately, the candidate with the majority of their party’s delegates goes on to become the nominee for their party in the general election. Along with state delegates, candidates try to win the support of superdelegates who can support whatever candidate they want at the National Conventions. Since these superdelegates are not allocated by primaries or caucuses, candiates try to win their support at the individual leve. For Democrats, getting their pary’s support in the general election means winning 2,383 delegates; the Republican nominee will need to win 1,237 delegates.
Iowa and New Hampshire
The first caucus and primary of the 2016 presidential race took place in Iowa and New Hampshire on Feb. 1 and Feb. 9, respectively. In the Iowa caucus, 44 delegates were up for grabs, and although Hillary won with 23 delegates, Sanders wasn’t far behind, winning the remaining 21. The caucus was similarly divided on the Republican side, with Cruz winning 8 of the available 30 delegates and Trump and Rubio winning 7 delegates each.
The New Hampshire primary resulted in more clear-cut winners. Trump took the lead with 11 of the 23 delegates while runner-up Kasich only won four. As for the Democrats, Sanders won with 15 of the 24 available delegates.
These first two elections were crucial as they set the stage for the rest of the election process.
Felder says, “It looked in the fall that Hillary was going to ease her way into the nomination, but Bernie has proved himself as a strong candidate because he won New Hampshire and tied Iowa.
It’s nice that this has become a competitive race [on the Democratic side]. Candidates will have to earn their way to the nomination and win popular support. They are forced to work harder to prove their views on the issues and represent the people well.”
To many, the Republican race seems more complicated as there were many more candidates competing for the nomination. However, Felder says, “On the Republican side, it’s narrowing down. A lot of candidates such as [Jeb] Bush and [Carly] Fiorina have dropped out because of poor performance in the primaries. It’s becoming more competitive, and even though Trump seems like the flashiest of the [candidates], he still faces competition.”
Super Tuesday
Perhaps the most important day of the candidates’ race to becoming presidential nominees is Super Tuesday, held this year on Mar. 1. Often called Super Tuesday because of its significance in the presidential election process, this year, eleven states held primary elections and caucuses that day.
On the Republican side, nearly half of the 1,237 delegates needed to win were up for grabs. Trump came out ahead, winning in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Cruz won the crucial primary of Texas with 102 delegates, as well as primaries in Alaska and Oklahoma. Prior to the election, Rubio attempted to deter voters from voting for Trump by going on the offensive and calling him a “con artist,” but Rubio only won in Minnesota.
The two Democratic candidates were after 880 delegates, roughly one-third of those needed to win. Clinton won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia and received 486 delegates. Sanders won 231 delegates from Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Vermont, bringing his total up to 431.
The Road Ahead
Twenty-nine states have yet to hold primaries and caucuses before each party selects its presidential nominee. California’s primary will be held on June 7, making it one of the last states to voice its opinion on the presidential candidates.
Felder says, “Because certain states vote earlier than others, if a candidate starts winning early, they become harder to catch. Voters in later states may not go to the polls if they feel their vote won’t make a difference. On the other hand, if two candidates have similar amounts of delegates, voters may be more motivated to vote because they believe their vote has more power over the outcome of the election.”
Voter turnout in the California primary of 2014 was at a record low, with only 25 percent of voters showing up to the polls. This number is even lower among young voters, who are more likely to cite “lack of interest” as the reason they do not vote.
Felder says, “I will be voting in the June primary, and the seniors turning 18 by that time should register to vote as well. The primary is an opportunity to see what it’s like to vote and take a position on a candidate you feel represents you. It’s a good habit to have because you will be registered and know the process, and you’ll be more likely to go out and vote in November. In the general election, it will be even more interesting because there we’ll be voting for the president, representatives, senators, and initiatives on the ballot.”
Addressing the fact that some people feel that their vote is not important in primaries, Felder says, “People need to realize that in a democracy, your vote matters. If everyone is skeptical about that and doesn’t vote, it makes our country weaker. Whenever you have the opportunity to vote, you want to make your voice heard.”
