President Biden has won the conventions in Wyoming and Alaska, moving him closer to winning reelection as a Democratic candidate.
As the two least populous states, Alaska and Wyoming play only a small role in party-line presidential and general election voting.
Mr. Biden won the Georgia primary on March 12, effectively clinching the Democratic nomination, and it is almost certain that he will face former President Trump in November.
alaska
The Alaska Democratic Party conducted voice voting at in-person and virtual district meetings on party-administered preference surveys. The party announced Saturday that Biden had won 15 confirmed delegates.
Mr. Biden is the only candidate to receive votes after another Democratic candidate, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, suspended his campaign last month. The vote took place during a meeting where other parties' business was being conducted.
The vote was delayed by a week. Democrats had planned to hold ranked-choice elections by mail on April 6, but that changed when only Biden and Phillips were eligible to vote, and Phillips withdrew from the race.
Changes to voting procedures were approved by the Democratic National Committee.
Lindsay Kavanaugh, executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, said there was no provision for write-in voters or non-committal voters.
“Voting no is not an option,” she said. “You can abstain. You're not voting yes or no, you're voting for a candidate.”
The party will proceed with the vote even if there is only one candidate “to ensure it is as inclusive as possible” and to avoid any suggestion that the party leadership is determining its own candidates. she said.
wyoming
In Wyoming, Biden won a poll that will determine which candidate wins the state's 17 delegates.
The caucus also decided who will go to the state Democratic convention in Casper on June 1st. Thirteen of Wyoming's delegates to the national convention are selected there.
Wyoming's other four “automatic” national delegates, the state party chair, vice chair and two national committee members, have not yet announced their support for Biden or anyone else.
Bohler and Gruber are contributors to The Associated Press. Bohler reported from Juneau and Gruber from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
