Biden, Trump pivot to a historic, high-stakes general election rematch
A rematch of their bitter 2020 campaign is all but set. After huge wins on Super Tuesday, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, will face off in another high-stakes showdown this November – whether American voters like it or not.
The 2024 Republican and Democratic presidential primaries aren’t the only races Americans are watching as November’s general election approaches.
On Tuesday, California, Illinois and Ohio all held high-profile contests for state and local offices. In Ohio, businessman Bernie Moreno notched a major victory in the state’s Republican Senate primary, defeating defeating Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan. Moreno received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement ahead of the contest.
And in the Golden State, candidates in the 20th congressional district will compete to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., In Illinois, three lawmakers are faced competitive party challengers.
Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio also held presidential contests, though President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already clinched their party’s nominations.
Keep up with the USA TODAY Network’s coverage of Tuesday’s elections and check back here for updates.
Bernie Moreno wins Ohio’s pivotal Republican Senate primary
Businessman Bernie Moreno notched a key victory in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, defeating Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan.
Moreno will face off against popular Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in the fall. He won former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the Republican primary, a factor that boosted him ahead of election day.
– Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden and Donald Trump win Illinois primaries
Joe Biden quickly won Illinois’ Democratic primary on Tuesday, a reliably blue state that he’ll likely win again in November. Trump also won the Republican race in the Midwest state.
– Marina Pitofsky
Donald Trump wins Florida’s Republican primary
Trump claimed victory in Florida on Tuesday, his home state where he was seen casting a ballot earlier in the day.
– Marina Pitofsky
Polls closed in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and most of Kansas. Still to come: Arizona and California
- 8 p.m. EDT: All polls close in Illinois; last polls close in Florida; most polls close in Kansas
- 9 p.m. EDT: Last polls close in Kansas; first polls close in Arizona
- 10 p.m. EDT: Most polls close in Arizona
- 11 p.m. EDT: All polls close in California for a special primary who will complete the term of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump have already clinched their party nominations, making tonight’s primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio more of a formality than a contest. For Biden and Trump, these victories will serve as a reaffirmation of their standing within their parties as they shift focus to the upcoming general election, where the battle for the presidency intensifies amid pressing national issues.
-Jeremy Yurow
Tonight, five states are hosting presidential primaries, even though Joe Biden and Donald Trump have already secured their party nominations. Here’s a breakdown of the primaries:
- Arizona: Voters in Arizona will participate in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.
- Florida: While the Democratic primary has been called off, Donald Trump will still appear on the Republican ballot.
- Illinois: Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on the ballot in the Illinois primaries.
- Kansas: Kansas will vote in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.
- Ohio: Ohioans will vote in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.
– Jeremy Yurow
An Ohio Congressional candidate accidentally sent an email conceding his race hours before polls closed.
Republican Derek Myers is one of 11 candidates in Ohio’s March 19 primary running for the Republican nomination for the 2nd District House seat. The primary winner will likely succeed U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup in the heavily Republican district.
“Tonight did not go as we had hoped, but as we know, this race is decided in the primary. I want to give my congratulations to the Congressman-Elect,” Myers said in the emailed statement sent at 3:19 p.m., four hours before Ohio’s 7:30 p.m. poll closing time.
– Erin Glynn
Three Illinois incumbent House lawmakers could see their reelection bids on the line Tuesday, as members of their own party seek to knock them out of the race.
Raymond Lopez, a member of Chicago’s city council, is looking to unseat Rep. Chuy García, a Democrat serving a district covering the southwest area of Chicago.
Another Democrat in a Chicago district, Rep. Danny Davis, is hoping to hold on Tuesday against a crowded field of opponents, including the city’s Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and community activist Kina Collins.
Over in the state’s southernmost district, Republican Rep. Mike Bost has the help of a Trump endorsement as he faces off against former state Sen. Darren Bailey.
– Savannah Kuchar
Voters in California’s 20th congressional district, encompassing southern portions of the Central Valley and Fresno, will head to the polls to choose a candidate to fill the remaining few months of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s term.
Leading the pack of nine candidates vying to take McCarthy’s spot are Republicans Vince Fong, a state Assemblyman, and Mike Boudreaux, sheriff of Tulare County. Candidates are not split by party on the ballot in California.
If any one of the nine hopefuls earns a majority of the vote tomorrow, they will automatically assume the position. Otherwise, the top two go on to a runoff election in May.
– Savannah Kuchar
Donald Trump tests the power of his endorsement
Former President Donald Trump puts his endorsement record back on the line Tuesday in an Ohio U.S. Senate race with national implications.
Trump’s candidate, businessman Bernie Moreno, is in a tight primary battle with two other Republicans, Ohio State Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
The vast majority of Trump’s endorsees have won races in ruby-red areas, but he has a more mixed record in competitive states. In 2022, several of the high-profile candidates endorsed by Trump lost general elections in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, their contests possibly costing the GOP a majority in the U.S. Senate.
– David Jackson
Donald Trump and Melania Trump vote in Florida
Among today’s primary voters: 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The ex-president and former first lady Melania Trump – who has been little seen on the campaign trail this year – were spotted entering a polling place in South Florida.
Afterward, Trump told reporters: “Did somebody just say, ‘who’d you vote for?’ … yea, I voted for Donald Trump.”
– David Jackson
- 7 p.m. EDT: Most polls close in Florida
- 7:30 p.m. EDT: All polls close in Ohio
- 8 p.m. EDT: All polls close in Illinois; last polls close in Florida; most polls close in Kansas
- 9 p.m. EDT: Last polls close in Kansas; first polls close in Arizona
- 10 p.m. EDT: Most polls close in Arizona
- 11 p.m. EDT: All polls close in California
– Associated Press
Ohio’s Republican Senate primary is heading for a brutal finale.
Voters will decide Tuesday whether Secretary of State Frank LaRose, businessman Bernie Moreno or state Sen. Matt Dolan should be the candidate to take on U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, this fall. Brown’s reelection bid will be one of the most-watched races in the country as the GOP tries to regain control of the Senate.
Despite the high stakes, the primary flew under the radar for months. Ohioans were preoccupied last year with elections that centered around abortion rights and recreational marijuana legalization. Even the 2024 election cycle has yet to capture voters’ attention, in part because the presidential primary is over.
– Haley BeMiller
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
