(The Center Square) – When Super Tuesday rolls around in 10 weeks for North Carolinians, there’ll be just one choice for Democrats and the favorite choice per polling for Republicans.
President Joe Biden will be the only name available on the Democratic primary ballot, the state’s Board of Elections has confirmed by unanimous vote. That vote by three Democrats and three Republicans also included the Grand Old Party primary ballot to be inclusive of seven names, headlined by former President Donald Trump.
December has been a month fraught not only with arguments but litigations to Trump being included on ballots, climaxed by seven Colorado justices — all appointed by Democratic governors — delivering a historic ruling. They cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in keeping Trump off the ballot; appeals are expected at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The announcement from North Carolina’s board was the fourth instance of Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., being unable to get on a ballot. His longshot challenge to Biden was also blunted in Florida, Tennessee and Massachusetts. Author Marianne Williamson and progressive commentator Cenk Uygur were others bidding.
The seven Republicans on North Carolina’s primary ballot in addition to Trump are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and pastor and businessman Ryan Binkley. At the fourth GOP debate earlier this month in Alabama, the stage included DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy and Christie, who are respectively the consensus closest to Trump in polling.
As of Tuesday, Trump collectively polls at 62.4% among Republicans, with DeSantis at 11.7%, Haley at 10.8% and Ramaswamy at 4%, according to FiveThirtyEight.com. Of 26 polls listed where the survey began in December, Trump’s worst showing is a head-to-head among less than 500 registered voters against DeSantis (59%-25%). In six polls of at least 1,600 registered voters, Trump outdistances all choices by no less than 50% (Ipsos, sample size 1,689, Trump 61%, DeSantis 11%, Haley 11%, Ramaswamy 5%).
The candidate lists were submitted by the respective parties. Libertarians submitted a list of 10, and all will be on the primary ballot. The Green Party did not submit candidates for the primary but can nominate a candidate for the Nov. 5 general election. The No Labels Party nominates general election candidates by convention rather than primary.
In-person early voting for the primaries begins Feb. 15 and runs through March 2. Super Tuesday is March 5.
