Home Latest Today Is Super Tuesday & Here’s Why You Should Care

Today Is Super Tuesday & Here’s Why You Should Care

It’s 2020, which means that it’s a presidential election year in the United States.

It’s Super Tuesday, and we’re gearing up to determine which candidate will represent the Democratic party this July in Milwaukee. In November, the lucky nominee will face off against the likely Republican nominee, President Trump. It’s worth noting that while the presidential incumbent typically receives their party’s nomination, there’s precedent for another individual to be chosen as the party’s nominee

Current runners in the Democratic race thus far are Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont), Senator Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), billionaire Mike Bloomberg, and former Vice President Joe Biden. Before Biden’s win in South Carolina on Saturday, February 29, there were also two other candidates in the field, former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. Both have since pulled out from the race and endorsed Biden. 

Super Tuesday is the election day holding the most primaries and caucuses in 14 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Today’s states include Sanders’ and Warren’s home states, indicating possible leads in those locations. 

With 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination in July, Super Tuesday is an important day for Democrats.

What are delegates, you may ask? In the US, the popular vote has never fully decided who would win. Just ask Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. Delegates are individuals selected to represent states in a political assembly. Prior to a US presidential election, the major parties select delegates to represent each state at the Democratic National Convention. While a voter may go to the polls and opt for say, Sanders, their actual vote isn’t counted in the manner we may think. While delegates could choose someone other than voters’ choices, it’s highly unlikely. In short? It’s simply bad form. 

We typically vote for candidates who represent issues that are important to us.

Sanders is popular among young professionals and college students, who face trillions of dollars in student loan debt. Sanders states he wants to cancel all student debt. On the other hand, electing someone who will take climate change seriously might be at the top of an environmentalist’s list. Biden favors taxing carbon emissions, whereas candidates like Warren and Sanders think that increasing governmental regulations is a better bet. A voter who cares about combating school shootings may prefer a candidate strong on assault weapon bans. Currently, all the candidates support a ban on assault weapons, but each candidate’s position varies slightly. 

Winning delegate votes on Super Tuesday is crucial to securing the presidential nomination.

Biden is currently in the lead with over 100 votes, followed by Sanders, who has 70. Warren only has eight. Because California and Texas are two of the most populous states, it’s likely that whoever carries those states will continue in the race for the presidency. California polls will close at 7PM PST, with the last polls closing on the East Coast. 

Whatever your party affiliation, it’s imperative that you know the election process and vote.

Yes, the popular vote is not the law of the land, and that makes many people feel as though their vote doesn’t count? Your vote does count, though, even if it’s not in the way you want it to. And who says we can’t vote to change how we vote? Whether you love Donald Trump or want to see Sanders, Biden, or Warren in the White House, you need to vote. 

Voting is an American right we must embrace. 

In short, whomever wins Super Tuesday will only clinch the nomination because people turned out for what they believe in.

Who are you rooting for this Super Tuesday? What issues are important to you? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Photo via Pexels

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