In a pivotal moment for the Republican Party, former President Donald Trump stands on the cusp of securing the GOP presidential nomination once again. This comes as the results from Tuesday’s four GOP voting contests in Georgia, Washington, Mississippi, and Hawaii are tallied. With primaries unfolding in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington, alongside caucuses in Hawaii, the political landscape is buzzing with anticipation.
In a significant turn of events, Trump’s main competitor, former United Nations Ambassador Gov. Nikki Haley, has withdrawn from the race following the Super Tuesday primaries. This development leaves Trump dominating the Republican field, a position he has maintained without engaging in debates with his primary opponents, and consistently leading in early-state polls.
However, Trump’s journey to the general election phase is not without its challenges. He faces a staggering 91 felony charges across four criminal cases. His legal battles include a trial set to commence on March 25 in New York, where he is charged with 34 counts related to alleged “hush money” payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Additionally, Trump confronts state criminal charges in Georgia for purported interference in the 2020 presidential election, as well as federal charges in Washington, D.C., and Florida concerning his handling of classified documents post-presidency.
The Tuesday contests put 161 GOP delegates up for grabs, with Trump having amassed over 1,075 delegates, per CBS News estimates. He is nearing the 1,215 delegate threshold required to clinch the nomination. A successful bid would mark Trump as the first Republican to secure the presidential nomination for three consecutive terms, a feat not even achieved by Richard Nixon, who won the GOP nomination three times, albeit not in successive cycles.
The delegate distribution across the states is as follows: Georgia with 59 delegates, Mississippi with 40, Washington with 43, and Hawaii’s caucus offering 19 delegates.
As for the polling times, Georgia voters can cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., with those in line by 7 p.m. eligible to vote. Mississippi follows a similar schedule, adjusted for Central Time. Washington, a mail-in voting state, allows for in-person voting on Tuesday, with polls closing at 8 p.m. PT. In Hawaii, GOP caucus-goers have from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time to participate.
Trump’s pursuit of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination is closely watched, as he requires fewer than 140 delegates to reach the necessary 1,215. This race not only highlights the former president’s enduring influence within the Republican Party but also sets the stage for a highly anticipated general election campaign amidst his ongoing legal entanglements.