Joe Biden and Donald Trump have secured their nominations and are analyzing primary election results for clues about what may happen in November. Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state, was closely watched, with voter turnout being analyzed for deeper insights. In addition to Wisconsin, Northeastern states also held primaries, and a city council commissioner in Enid, Oklahoma, with ties to the White nationalist movement, is being replaced.
In Wisconsin, more than 45,000 Democratic primary voters chose “uninstructed delegation,” signaling progressive discontent with Biden’s handling of the conflict in Gaza. With the race likely to be close, any stress on either candidate’s base is cause for concern. Biden won Wisconsin by a small margin in 2020, and progressive protest votes are adding to broader concerns about his support among Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim American communities.
Republican primary voters in Wisconsin also sent a warning to Trump, with a significant number not supporting him despite his dominance in the race. Despite his strong showing, Trump fell short of 80% support in the GOP primary, with over 100,000 voters choosing other candidates. Trump’s team downplayed the results, focusing on rallying supporters in Michigan and Wisconsin and attacking Biden on border policies. In response, the Biden campaign targeted suburban Republican voters with a digital ad focused on Trump’s rejection of Nikki Haley voters.
Wisconsin voters approved two state constitutional amendments supported by Trump-allied Republicans that will change campaign and election rules for the upcoming November election. One measure bans the use of private funds in election administration, while the other restricts election-related tasks to designated election officials. Both measures were passed by the GOP legislature after being vetoed by the Democratic governor. These changes are part of a broader trend in multiple states following the 2020 election to regulate the use of private funding in elections.
In Enid, Oklahoma, voters are projected to recall a city commissioner, Judd Blevins, over his participation in a White nationalist rally and connections to a racist online forum. Blevins, an Iraq War veteran, has stated that he now opposes racial hate and discrimination. His past comments and actions were known before his election in 2023, but activists were successful in getting a recall vote on the ballot. Cheryl Patterson, a conservative, will replace Blevins on the Enid City Council.
