NORFOLK, Va. — President Joe Biden cruised to victory in Virginia's Democratic primary, while Trump defeated challenger Nikki Haley, the Associated Press reported.
As of 10:30 p.m., Trump is carrying 63% of the vote, while former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has 35%. Biden is carrying the Democratic primary with 89%, compared to 3% for U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and 8% for self-help author Marianne Williamson.
Virginia was one of 15 states, along with American Samoa, that participated in Super Tuesday, when the highest number of states hold presidential primary elections all on the same day. It's historically a pivotal day for presidential candidates since hundreds of delegates needed to win the presidential nominations are allocated, 874 for Republicans and 1,383 for Democrats.
For Republicans, whichever candidate meets the 1,215 delegate threshold will be the presidential nominee, while the Democratic threshold is 1,969.
Looking ahead to November, no Republican has won Virginia in a presidential election since 2004. In the 2020 election, Biden had a 10-point victory over Trump. But a recent poll from the Roanoke College suggests a much more competitive race.
The poll, which was released before Super Tuesday, found that Biden is leading Trump 47 to 43%, much closer than the 2020 result in Virginia. If Haley were to become the Republican nominee, she would lead Biden 49% to 40%.
RELATED: Poll: Virginians would choose Nikki Haley, but not Trump, over Biden if 2024 election were held now
Despite the close polling, Sabato's Crystal Ball, an election forecaster based out of the UVA Center for Politics, lists Virginia as a "Likely Democratic" state in the November election. A similar forecaster, the Cook Political Report, ranks Virginia as "Solid Democratic."
Whoever wins Virginia in November will get 13 votes in the Electoral College; 270 are needed to win the presidency.
U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-04), who serves on the Biden-Harris National Advisory Board, released the following statement on President Joe Biden winning the primary election in Virginia:
“Virginia Democrats sent a clear message tonight that we stand with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in this pivotal election. From reproductive freedom to voting, our rights are at stake this November – and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the only candidates who will protect these cherished rights that so many generations fought for.
“It’s increasingly clear that this election will be a contrast between President Biden’s focus on delivering for working families and former President Trump’s focus on delivering revenge to his political enemies. But tonight’s vote in Virginia shows that the Republican Party is divided, with a significant percentage voting for another candidate. It’s clear that President Trump’s attacks on democracy and reproductive freedom are deeply unpopular with Democrats, Independents and many Republicans. This November will be the most important election of our lifetimes, and Virginians will choose President Biden’s leadership and results over Donald Trump’s divisiveness and chaos.”