Biden and ‘none of these candidates’ win in Nevada primary election

President Joe Biden is on track to face off against former president Donald Trump in November’s general election.

President Joe Biden clinched an expected win in Nevada Tuesday as the Democratic nominee for president, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley faced an embarrassing loss to “None of these candidates” in a Republican primary race where the stakes were virtually nonexistent.

The Associated Press called both races late Tuesday evening as early results began to trickle in, and as Biden maintained a monumental lead throughout the night.

But the shadow of former president Donald Trump loomed large in the Republican primary, as the gap between Haley and “None of these candidates” continued to widen.

Trump was not on Republican voters’ primary ballots Tuesday, after opting instead to take part in the state Republican Party’s caucus on Thursday, Feb. 8.

To protest the state-run primaries and recently enacted voter legislation by the state legislature, the state Republican Party set up its own caucus, solidifying it as the only race that would count for the purposes of awarding delegates–the process by which a presidential nominee is selected–effectively rendering the primary a pointless exercise with no tangible impact on the Republican race. 

The move all but ensured that Trump would be the Republican winner in Nevada. Haley, who opted not to campaign in Nevada as a result, has described the state’s election as “sealed up, bought and paid for.”

Nevada GOP Chairman and Trump ally Michael McDonald said Tuesday night that the disrespect Haley showed to the Silver State “just got reciprocated,” the AP reported.

As of Wednesday morning, Biden had received 89% of Democratic votes, while the “none” option in the Republican primary had netted 63% of votes, more than double Haley’s 31%.

Biden faced virtually no opposition in a primary field of mostly unknown challengers. Following Haley’s loss, the president is on track to face off against former president Donald Trump in November’s general election.

“We must organize, mobilize, and vote. Because one day, when we look back, we’ll be able to say, when American democracy was a risk, we saved it — together,” Biden said in a statement following the vote.

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