If our workweek ever needed a hero, thank goodness there's Super Tuesday
Let’s think big. The 2016 presidential race will most likely be one of the most divisive political races in our 240-year history. Last Tuesday, Americans flooded to the polls to cast their votes in what’s affectionately known as Super Tuesday.
Tuesday is not super because it’s faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive or able to leap tall builders in a single bound – Tuesday is super because nearly a quarter of our states (12 total) opened the polls with each party handing out enough delegates to create a clear front runner. Ten of the states held primaries for both parties, with Colorado holding only a Democratic Primary and Alaska holding only a Republican Primary.
The Republican Party, with 595 delegates to give on Super Tuesday, extended Donald Trump’s lead to 316 delegates after the billionaire real estate magnate won seven states and added 224 delegates. Ted Cruz won three states, including his home state of Texas and its 99 delegates, to end the day in a close second with 226 delegates. Marco Rubio won Minnesota and trails in a distant third with 106 delegates.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton grabbed seven states, adding a whopping 486 delegates to her leading 1,034 delegate total. Bernie Sanders won four states, but trails Clinton with 408 delegates.
Throughout the primary season, which runs through June, there will be a total 2,472 Republican delegates and 4,763 Democratic delegates at stake. With majority winning, the Republican that wins 1,237 delegates receives the nomination. It will take 2,383 delegates to nominate the Democratic candidate.
To most readers, this may sound confusing. But in basic terms states hold a series of contests (primaries or caucuses) that assign a certain number of delegates to each candidate in a specific political party. The candidate who accumulates the most delegates typically wins their party’s presidential nomination, which is announced at the national party convention in the summer.
After the parties announce their respective candidates, it doesn’t end there. Enter the Electoral College.
Instead of selecting a president based on the total votes in November’s General Election, we elect our president based on the number of Electoral College votes they get. These votes are called electors. For the General Election, each state gets the same number of electors as it has senators and congressman – the bigger the state (Texas, California, New York and Florida) the more electoral votes able to be cast.
In total, there are 538 electoral votes available. This number is derived from the 435 congressman, 100 senators and three electors allocated for Washington, D.C.
In the General Election (Nov. 8) the Republican or Democrat who receives 270 Electoral College votes wins the United State presidency. Again, simple majority rules.
In basic terms, the delegates – in the primary or caucus process – elect the party’s representative in the General Election, while the Electoral College electors – in the General Election – decides the next United States president.
If you are still confused, it’s OK. Our presidential election system is unique and confusing. The most important thing is to vote. Washington state’s Democratic Primary, which will assign 101 delegates, is March 26. Our state’s Republican Primary, which will assign 44 delegates, is May 24.
— Editorial Board