Do primaries matter now that Biden, Trump are presumptive nominees? Here’s what to know

Presidential primaries will be held in five states — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio — on Tuesday, March 19.

But the results will likely be of little consequence in the race for the White House.

Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already received enough delegates to clinch their respective party nominations, which, barring unforeseen circumstances, ensures a rematch of the 2020 election.

Because of this, “these primaries don’t matter for the selection of the presidential candidates,” Robert Shapiro, a professor of government at Columbia University, told McClatchy News.

But, the results could shed light on levels of support for the candidates and their influence in down-ballot contests.

“The presidential vote — and especially votes for candidates other than Biden or Trump — could have symbolic relevance or be signs of weakness in their candidacies,” Shapiro said. “And the relative turnout for each could say something about enthusiasm for them or signs of voter turnout to come.”

Still, by the time the polls close in all five states, it’s likely that “each major party candidate will end up with almost all the delegates,” Paul Beck, an emeritus professor of political science at the Ohio State University, told McClatchy News.

Here’s an overview of the upcoming contests in the five states.

Ohio

In the Ohio Democratic primary, where 127 delegates are on the line, the ballot will feature Biden and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who has already dropped out and endorsed the current president, according to WCPO.

Biden boasts widespread support in the state, garnering the backing of 86% of Democratic voters, according to a March poll from SurveyUSA.

In the Republican primary, where 79 delegates are at stake, Trump will be on the ballot alongside a slew of candidates who have already bowed out: Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis, per WCPO.

The vast majority of Republicans in the state, 83%, back Trump, according to a March poll from Emerson College.

The Republican primary will also also include a widely watched nominating contest in the race to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Trump has endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno, while Gov. Mike DeWine endorsed his opponent, state Sen. Matt Dolan.

Moreno is seen as the “more extreme” choice, Alan Abramowitz, an emeritus professor of political science at Emory University, told McClatchy News.

The race “will be an interesting test of Trump’s ability to influence down-ballot contests,” Abramowitz said, adding that it will be “one of the key races in November determining control of the Senate.”

Arizona

Biden will be on Arizona’s Democratic primary ballot alongside Phillips, Marianne Williamson and a string of lesser-known candidates, including Jason Palmer, who won the Democratic primary in American Samoa. Seventy-two delegates are at stake.

Biden is supported by the majority, 65%, of Democratic voters in the state, according to an August poll from Emerson College.

In the Republican primary, where 43 delegates are on the line, Trump will be featured on the ballot along with eight other candidates, including DeSantis, Christie, Haley and Asa Hutchinson.

Trump is backed by the majority of Republicans in the state, according to recent polls.

Illinois

In Illinois’ Democratic primary, where 147 delegates are at stake, Biden will face off against Phillips, Williamson and businessman Frankie Lozada.

In the Republican primary, where 64 delegates are up for grabs, Trump will be joined on the ballot by DeSantis, Haley, Christie and businessman Ryan Binkley.

Illinois will also hold nominating contests for three House seats and other statewide offices.

Kansas

In Kansas’ Democratic primary, where 33 delegates are available, Biden will be on the ballot along with Phillips, Williamson and Palmer. Voters will also have the option to select “none of the names shown.”

In the Republican primary, where 39 delegates are up for grabs, Trump will be on the ballot alongside Trump, DeSantis, Binkley, Haley and “none of the names shown.”

Previous primaries this year have featured options similar to “none of the names shown” — such as “uncommitted” — and have revealed pockets of discontent with both Biden and Trump in a string of states. Democratic activists and officials have pushed voters in multiple states to opt for “uncommitted” as a way to protest Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Florida

Florida’s Democratic primary was canceled due to Biden being the sole candidate put forward by the state party. As a result, all 224 of the state’s delegates were granted to Biden.

Phillips, Williamson and other long shot Democratic candidates criticized the move in December, calling it antidemocratic, according to The Hill.

In the Republican primary, Trump will face off against DeSantis, Binkley, Haley, Ramaswamy and Hutchinson. At stake are 125 delegates.

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