Former Vice President Joe Biden won Minnesota, his seventh state on Super Tuesday. He also won Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Virginia as of 12:01 a.m.
The St. Thomas College Democrats club hosted a watch party in Woulfe Alumni Hall, where students watched CNN for Minnesota’s results. Minnesota’s polls closed at 8 p.m.
“We felt that both for the fact that Minnesota is voting today as well as this is the closest thing to a national primary, that this would be one that people might want to come out and watch and participate,” College Democrats Co-President Jack Joa said.
Students reacted to Biden’s win at the watch party.
“It’s not what I was expecting, but I’m alright with it,” sophomore Hamad Al-Hamad said. “My main goal is for this election is to defeat (President Donald) Trump, so whoever is the nominee, that’s alright with me, I’ll support him.”
At a speech in Los Angeles, Biden spoke about defeating Trump.
Graphic detailing the results of Minnesota’s 2020 Democratic primary. Former Vice President Joe Biden received the most votes, followed by Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg. (Reid Neeser/TommieMedia)
“We must beat Donald Trump, but we can’t become like him,” Biden said.
Students living on campus and residents of Ward 4, Precinct 6 were eligible to vote in McNeely Hall.
“It’s your civic duty,” junior Nate Fitzgerald said. “I feel like if you don’t vote, you forfeit your rights to complain about the political system.”
Senior Danielle Wong said she enjoyed voting on campus.
“It’s so convenient to be able to just walk down a block away and be able to cast my ballot,” Wong said.
This presidential election cycle is the first presidential primary for Minnesota since 1992. On May 22, 2016 then-Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill changing from caucus-style to primary-style voting.
“I think it’s a big deal, a big transition for Minnesota,” sophomore Jacob Giesler said. “For us to have more of an important role in the election is a big deal to me.”
Junior Josh Schauer would have loved to participate in a caucus but liked how easy it is to vote in a primary.
“(Caucusing) sounds like a lot of fun, but a primary is so easy,” Schauer said. “It took me like two minutes, where with caucusing you’re dedicating a whole evening.”
Schauer hopes to volunteer with the eventual Democratic nominee.
“I’m very passionate about it,” he said.
Senior Rachel Van Berkom thought that participating in a caucus took a lot of time.
“I remember going to the caucuses for the 2016 election, and I…think it didn’t persuade me personally for who I was going to vote for,” Van Berkom said. “I actually like the primary election.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar received 5.6% of votes in Minnesota as of 12:01 a.m. despite dropping out of the race Monday, one day prior to Super Tuesday.
Opposing the primary’s results, Ramsey County favored candidate Bernie Sanders.
Sanders took 36.87% of St. Paul’s Ward 4, Precinct 6, the district that votes in McNeely Hall, followed by 29.09% for Biden and 22.85% for Elizabeth Warren.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.
Taylor Shupe can be reached at shup9397@stthomas.edu.