Joe Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primary for presidential nomination

US President Joe Biden won again the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday and it is the first official nominating contest for the party, according to The Associated Press.

Biden had been widely expected to carry the primary as the incumbent president while two Democrats –Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn– and 2020 Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson were also on the ballot.

According to the AP project, amid low voter turnout, Biden won all 55 of the state’s Democratic delegates. Party leaders and elected officials have pledged another seven delegates, such as South Carolina’s lone Democratic congressman, Jim Clyburn.

Neither Dean Phillips nor author Marianne Williamson received at least 15% of the statewide vote or 15% of the vote in any congressional district.

To secure the nomination, the party’s eventual nominee will need 1,968 total delegates countrywide.

Shortly after the results were called in his favor, the president sent out a statement. The results specifically highlighted Black voters, who comprise 26% of state residents and a significant portion of the Democratic voting base in South Carolina.
Biden compared his election victory on Saturday to his primary win in 2020, which paved the door for his candidacy.

Biden said in a statement following the results that the voters of South Carolina proved the pundits wrong, breathed new life into our campaign, and set us on the path to winning the presidency in 2020.

He also said in 2024, South Carolina’s people have spoken again and have set us on the path to winning the Presidency again, making Donald Trump a loser again.

The state’s Republican presidential primary will be on February 24, fighting Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina against former US President Donald Trump.

Given his incumbent advantage and sizable lead in polls going into Election Day, Biden’s victory was widely expected.

New Hampshire has historically held the first Democratic primary, but the Democratic National Committee transferred the official order under the direction of Biden.

The president is yet to win the 2020 Democratic primary in New Hampshire.

According to the DNC, South Carolina’s demographic variety was more representative of the Democratic Party than New Hampshire. This would make the state a more accurate reflection of a campaign’s health.