US Elections 2020: Joe Biden Wins Florida, Illinois, Arizona Primaries To Set Up November Clash With Donald Trump

These wins may give Joe Biden an all-but insurmountable lead over Bernie Sanders in the race to decide who will top the Democratic ticket against President Donald Trump in November.

author-image
Pawas Kumar
Updated On
New Update
Joe Biden Reuters

Joe Biden trounced Sanders in Florida and was cruising to victory in Illinois, according to projections by TV networks. ( Photo Credit : Reuters File)

Former vice president Joe Biden won the Florida, Illinois and Arizona primaries, notching up big victories over Senator Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to US media reports. The wins moved Biden a step closer to the party nomination and a slot on the ballot against Donald Trump in November's presidential elections. The 77-year-old Biden won the three primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona with an impressive margin, trouncing his main rival Sanders (78) to become the Democratic party's presidential nominee.

As of Tuesday, Biden had 1,121 pledged delegate in his kitty with Sanders trailing behind with 839 delegates. Either of the two presidential aspirants need 1,991 of the 3,979 pledged delegates to win the nomination during the Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin in July.

Democratic Presidential Primary Majority Mark  1,992     
State Delegates (Undecided) Joe Biden (1121) Bernie Sanders (839) Others (168)
Iowa 41 6 12 23
New Hampshire 24 0 9 15
Nevada 36 9 24 3
South Carolina 54 39 15 0
Alabama 52 44 8 0
American Samoa 6 0 4 2
Arkansas 31 17 9 5
California 415 (12) 165 216 22
Colorado 67 (18) 12 21 16
Maine 24 11 9 4
Massachusetts 91 37 29 25
Minnesota 75 38 27 10
North Carolina 110 67 37 6
Oklahoma 37 21 13 3
Tennessee 64 33 19 12
Texas 228 111 102 15
Utah 29 (9) 5 13 2
Vermont 16 5 11 0
Virginia 99 66 31 2
Democrats Abroad 13 13 0 0
Idaho 20 11 9 0
Michigan 125 (1) 72 52 0
Mississippi 36 34 2 0
Missouri 68 44 24 0
North Dakota 14 6 8 0
Washington 89 43 41 5
Northern Mariana Islands 6 2 4 0
Arizona 67 (67) 0 0 0
Florida 219(41) 130 48 0
Illinois 155(16) 93 46 0

Source: NPR

In his speech, Biden laid out his vision for America, call on Americans to come together to address this global health pandemic, and describe how we will come out of the crisis stronger as one nation. Biden spoke from his home in Delaware keeping the guidelines of avoiding a gathering of 10 or more people. He urged supporters of the Sanders campaign to join him. Praising the the remarkable passion and tenacity of Sanders' supporters, he said that they have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country.

"I hear you. I know what's at stake. I know what we have to do," Biden said in an impressive speech.

Donald Trump Wins Florida, Illinois Primaries

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has won the Florida and Illinois Republican primaries, making him the party's presumptive nominee in the November presidential election.

"Congratulations to Donald J. Trump on officially becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for President!" Republican Party chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted on tuesday.

The 73-year-old White House incumbent did not face any meaningful competition for the Republican nomination and the Florida and Illinois results were a foregone conclusion.

"Our party is united, our grassroots movement is fired up, and we are ready for FOUR MORE YEARS!" McDaniel said.

(With agency inputs)

Donald Trump US Elections 2020 Bernie Sanders Joe Biden US 2020 US Presidential Election 2020