Super Tuesday 2020 – which states vote, when is it and why is it important?
SUPER Tuesday has arrived - and the greatest number of US states in a single day will cast their votes to nominate Democratic presidential candidates.
It is the second biggest day in the calendar behind the election day itself, here's what you need to know...
When is Super Tuesday?
Super Tuesday takes place on Tuesday March 3.
It is the the day where nearly half the states in the union hold political primaries, conventions and caucuses to determine their candidates for president.
The first Super Tuesday was held in 1988, after the Democratic National Committee worked with several Southern states that wanted to show the importance of them producing a nomination for the party.
Super Tuesday was set up to be a boot camp of sorts for campaigns to determine whether they would be able to work at national level and tackle politics that affect everyone in the US.
Polls close between 7pm and 8.30pm Eastern Time.
Which states vote on Super Tuesday?
Fourteen states and one territory vote on Super Tuesday:
- Alabama
- American Samoa
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
Which candidates are on the ballot on Super Tuesday?
There will be five candidates to vote for on the ballot in every state. They include:
- , Former Vice President.
- Former New York City Mayor
- Representative of Hawaii
- Senator of Vermont
- Senator of Massachusetts
Names of those who have already, such as , , and Tom Steyer may still be on the ballot.
Why is Super Tuesday important?
Super Tuesday will tell us a lot about the upcoming Democratic presidential primary and who will take on on November 3, 2020.
Democrats need 880 delegates to ensure a win, and a third of those can be won on Super Tuesday.
States to watch include Texas, with 252 delegates up for grabs, and California, with 415.
The race for the Democratic nomination has been heating up in recent weeks, but there is still no clear favourite for the nomination.
Bernie Sanders retains his lead in the polls, but a win in South Carolina by Joe Biden has made it a verdict hard to predict.
LATEST ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
It will also be the first appearance on the ballot for former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on his advertising campaign.
Bloomberg was late to enter the race and Tuesday will be a measure of his popularity.
So Super Tuesday could give us the biggest indication yet of where the Democrat electorate stands.
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