President Biden overwhelmingly won Democratic elections on Super Tuesday, with one notable exception: American Samoa.
The American island in the South Pacific voted for an unlikely Democratic candidate, Jason Palmer, a 52-year-old businessman from Baltimore.
Of the 91 votes cast in the territory’s caucuses, Mr. Palmer received 51 votes to Mr. Biden’s 40, according to local political parties. The upset does not derail Biden’s bid to win the party’s nomination, but it is the second time a U.S. territory has rejected him.
American Samoa’s billionaire Michael Bloomberg was the lone winner of the 2020 Democratic primary. He received 175 votes in the contest, followed by Tulsi Gabbard in second place with 103 votes. Bernie Sanders received 37 votes and Biden came in fourth place with 31 votes.
2024 American Samoa Primary Election Results
President Biden speaks during a meeting with the Competition Council at the State Dining Room at the White House on March 5, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
After Tuesday’s caucus, Palmer thanked American Samoa in a message about X.
“We are proud to announce our victory in the American Samoa presidential primary. Thank you to our amazing community for their support. This victory is a testament to the power of our voices. Together, we We can rebuild the American Dream and shape a brighter future for everyone.” ”
Who is Jason Palmer, the unknown presidential candidate who handed Biden his first defeat in 2024?
Six delegates were up for grabs in the U.S. territory, with votes split evenly between Mr. Palmer and Mr. Biden.
Democratic presidential candidate Jason Palmer poses for a photo at the Washington Hotel on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in Washington. Mr. Palmer, an unknown candidate, won the Democratic primary in American Samoa. (AP Photo/Pablo Martínez Monsivais)
Palmer said Tuesday it was a shock to win on the island by just 11 votes.
“I knew I had won when I started getting emails from friends and campaign staff and my phone started blowing up,” Palmer told The Associated Press.
He also has never visited American Samoa.
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“I’ve been campaigning remotely, doing town halls on Zoom, talking to people, listening to their concerns and what’s important to them,” he said.
Unknown candidate Jason Palmer won the Democratic primary election held in American Samoa on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. According to local political parties, Mr. Palmer received 51 of the 91 votes cast and President Biden received 40. (AP Photo/David Brisco)
Mr. Palmer entered the race in November 2023.
According to his campaign website, he acknowledges there is “little chance of victory” but says his campaign wants to highlight new “ideas, solutions and changing conversations.”
He also loaned himself $500,000 for his campaign.
“You can’t take money with you when you die,” he said. “But you can change the world while you’re here.”
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg (left) won the only victory in American Samoa in the 2020 Democratic primary. (Tama Mario/Getty Images)
Residents of the U.S. territory can vote in the primaries but have no official representation in the Electoral College.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
