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”.
Key Points
Show latest update
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.
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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.
(AP)
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.
(AFP via Getty Images)
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
Trump inches closer to GOP convention with win in Ohio
Former president Trump’s win in Ohio inches him closer to the GOP party convention.
His win on Tuesday and going forward will be purely ceremonial, as the 2024 election will almost certainly be a rematch of the 2020 election between him and Joe Biden. Mr Trump continues to rail against Democrats for the multitude of legal challenges he now faces. He appeared in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday for a last-minute rally to boost his endorsed Senate candidate to victory in the state primary; Bernie Moreno headed into the night leading his closest opponent, state Senator Matt Dolan, by a close margin.
At his rally, Mr Trump delivered some of his most dehumanising remarks so far, as he labeled his political opponents “not people” in some cases. He also sparked a national media cycle with his prediction of a “bloodbath” in 2025 and beyond if Mr Biden is re-elected: his campaign has maintained that he was speaking metaphorically about the economy.
Mike Bedigan19 March 2024 23:54
Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in Ohio
The Associated Press has called the Republican presidential primary in Ohio in favour of Donald Trump.
Mike Bedigan19 March 2024 23:50