President Joe Biden and Donald Trump both inched closer to their respective party conventions on Tuesday after winning their primaries in the states of Ohio, Florida, Illinois and Kansas.
Only Arizona remains to be called in the five-state sweep, though both men are expected to scoop victory there.
All eyes were on the GOP senate race in Ohio, which placed Mr Trump’s endorsement power under fresh scrutiny. However the presidential candidate’s pick, former car salesman Bernie Moreno, overcame a pair of party establishment rivals for the chance to challenge Democrat Sherrod Brown.
Mr Moreno was annointed by Mr Trump as his MAGA representative in the contest but faced stiff competition from state senator Matt Dolan and secretary of state Frank LaRose. The Associated Press called the race in the Buckeye state for Mr Moreno shortly after 8.35pm local time.
The Republican presidential nominee hailed Mr Moreno as a “fantastic guy” during a 90-minute address at the Dayton Air Show on Saturday and laid into Mr Dolan, whom he labelled a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) and “the next Mitt Romney”.
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Frank LaRose releases statement following Ohio Senate primary loss
Here is Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s full statement following his loss in the state Senate primary on Tuesday:
“I’m honored and humbled by the thousands of Ohioans who stood with me in this campaign. While this is not my time to serve as our party’s nominee for the United States Senate, I’m profoundly grateful for those who gave me their support.
“A lot of people warned me about getting into a contest with a powerful, entrenched incumbent and two wealthy self-funders. They said I’d be unfairly attacked without the resources to defend my record, that it would damage my personal and political reputation. Those opinions just didn’t matter to me as much as the gravity of this moment in our nation’s history. I’ve been clear from the beginning that we have a country to save, and I’ll always fight for America.
“I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. My faith taught me conviction; the Army taught me courage; and my daughters inspire me every day to care deeply about the future of our country.
“While our faces are marred politically by dust and sweat and blood, I believe with Teddy Roosevelt that at worst, if we fail, we fail while daring greatly, so that our place will never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. I look forward to future victories, beginning with electing a Senate majority this November that will work with President Trump to make America great again.
“Now is the time to stand together as a party. Moments ago, I called to congratulate Bernie Moreno and wish him well. We all share the same mission to retire Sherrod Brown and restore Ohio’s voice and values to the United States Senate. The stakes for this election couldn’t be higher.”
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 02:10
Why AP called Ohio’s Republican US Senate primary for Bernie Moreno: Race call explained
A strong performance among voters who cast their ballots on Tuesday — the day of the election in Ohio — powered Bernie Moreno to a win in the state’s GOP primary for the US Senate.
The Associated Press declared former car salesman Mr Moreno the winner at 8:35 pm EDT, when he led state Senator Matt Dolan 41 per cent to 37 per cent. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose was in third place with 22 per cent.
The AP was able to determine the winner by analysing not just the overall vote totals but also the methods in which voters cast their ballots.Mr Moreno built a sizable lead among votes cast on election day.
Since the issue of early voting became highly politicized after the 2020 presidential election, election day voting has tended to favor Republicans and conservatives, while votes cast before election day have tended to favor Democrats and moderates.
Mr Dolan cast himself as the more moderate option in the primary and performed better in the state’s heavily Democratic areas as well as among voters who cast their ballots before election day. When the first votes were reported, Mr Dolan built a lead among pre-election day votes.
Over the next hour, Mr Dolan’s lead among pre-election day votes shrank, and as votes cast on election day started to be released, Mr Moreno overtook Mr Dolan for the lead.
As more pre-election day votes were tabulated and with the bulk of the election day vote yet to be counted, the prospects for Mr Dolan retaking the lead dissipated.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 02:00
Ohio Democratic Senator looks forward to ‘toughest race’ in November
Ohio’s Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has said that the state Senate race in November “may be my toughest race”.
Following the outcome of Tuesday’s GOP primary in Ohio, Mr Brown will now take on former car-salesman Bernie Moreno as he seeks a fourth term in a state that is turning increasingly red.
“It may be my toughest race,” he told CNN.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 01:20
Trump and Biden win respective primaries in Kansas
President Joe Biden and Donald Trump both have both been projected to win their respective primaries in Kansas.
The two men are now just one state away from a five-state sweep on Tuesday, after winning in Ohio, Florida and Illinois. The Associated Press called the races in Kansas at around 8pm local time on Tuesday.
Only Arizona remains, though the pair are expected to scoop victories there too.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 01:09
Trump-backed Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno beats two rivals to win Ohio’s GOP Senate primary
Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno has won Ohio’s Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, just days after former President Donald Trump visited the state to boost his endorsed candidate in a three-way race that remained competitive to the end. Mr Moreno prevailed after a contentious and expensive fight against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Cleveland-area state Senator Matt Dolan.
The Associated Press called the senate race in favour of Mr Moreno shortly before 8.40pm local time.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 00:41
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 00:30
Biden wins in Illinois and Florida
Joe Biden has, as predicted one the Democratic primaries in the states of Illinois and Florida
The Associated Press called the result on Tuesday evening. Mr Biden automatically in Florida as he was uncontested on the ballot.
Meanwhile, his GOP rival Donald Trump also scored victories in the same states.
The two men have both technically already clinched the nominations for president with delegate totals amassed in prior contests. Mr Trump’s last active challenger, Nikki Haley, dropped out after Super Tuesday; author Marianne Williamson continues to hold events on the Democratic side but has no viable path to the nomination.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 00:22
Frank LaRose still ‘confident’ of pulling ahead in Ohio
Ohio’s secretary of state Frank LaRose still remains “confident” of victory in the state senate race, despite current polling showing him lagging behind his competitors – Trump-endorsed car salesman Brian Moreno, and Ohio state senator Matt Dolan.
“We’re still confident that as the results fully come in we will see battle-tested Frank LaRose pull ahead,” a LaRose campaign official told The Independent.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 00:10
Biden re-election campaign already begun amid Ohio primary win
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have already begun campaigning for re-election in earnest, as the president scooped another primary win in Ohio on Tuesday.
Ms Harris last week became the first sitting or former vice president to vist and deliver remarks from an abortion clinic as the Democratic Party prepares to make reproductive rights a major talking point of their 2024 effort.
Like his rival Donald Trump, Mr Biden’s wins from here on out are purely ceremonial, and he will expect to be officially recognised at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Mike Bedigan20 March 2024 00:06
Joe Biden wins the Democratic presidential primary in Ohio
The Associated Press has called the Democratic presidential primary in Ohio in favour of Joe Biden.
Mike Bedigan19 March 2024 23:55