President Joe Biden secured victory in the South Carolina primary election on Saturday, triumphing over Democratic rivals Representative Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson, as per Associated Press (AP) projections.
The call for Biden’s win in South Carolina’s Democratic primary came approximately 25 minutes after the closure of polls statewide at 7 p.m. Biden, seeking a second term, faced competition from Phillips, the representative for Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, and Williamson, a progressive author and spiritual leader.
Results from AP at the time of reporting indicated that the president received over 96 percent of the vote, with Williamson at 1.6 percent and Phillips at 1.2 percent. Biden claimed all 55 of South Carolina’s Democratic delegates.
Joe Biden (Credits: WNCT)
Reacting to the projected victory, Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after 7:30 p.m., expressing gratitude to the voters of South Carolina and drawing parallels with the 2020 election that set him on the path to the presidency.
President Biden’s win in South Carolina followed his leadership in a Democratic National Committee initiative to alter the party’s primary election schedule, positioning South Carolina as the initial primary state. This change aimed to highlight the state’s greater racial diversity compared to Iowa and New Hampshire, the traditional first primary states.
Phillips, not featured on the Nevada Democratic primary ballot next week, extended congratulations to Biden for his South Carolina win but showed no intention of exiting the race. Instead, he announced plans to run in the Michigan primary later in the month.
Williamson, who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020, launched her 2024 White House bid in March of the previous year, emphasizing the need for unconventional politics on her campaign website.
Biden had previously defeated Phillips and Williamson through a write-in campaign in New Hampshire, securing a double-digit victory on January 23. These wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina provided a boost for Biden, whose approval ratings had fluctuated between the low 40s and a peak of 53.1 percent in January 2021.
Despite polls indicating a preference for alternative Democratic candidates, Phillips faced challenges gaining traction since announcing his primary challenge in October 2023. The president urged voters to recognize the stakes in the upcoming election, emphasizing the threat of divisive forces led by Donald Trump and the importance of moving the nation forward.
