The fourth primary contest for Democratic candidates seeking their party’s nomination for president takes place on Saturday in South Carolina. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has emerged as the frontrunner in this primary contest, after strong performances in states that have voted thus far. South Carolina is comprised of voters that would favor former Vice President Joe Biden, particularly African-American voters, which may be the previous frontrunner’s last hope to turn the race around. Biden currently leads Sanders in most polls, but Sanders received a bump after he won the Nevada primary last Saturday. The former vice president is confident in his electoral advantage in South Carolina, calling it his “firewall.”
Voters in South Carolina have the choice between the following candidates: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Julian Castro, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, Marriane Williamson and Andrew Yang. Even those candidates who have since exited the presidential primary, Bennet, Booker, Castro, Delaney, Patrick, Williamson and Yang, will still appear on the ballot. South Carolina conducts an open primary, so eligible voters can vote in the Democratic primary regardless of affiliation. President Trump is the sole Republican presidential challenger on the ballot for the GOP after South Carolina GOP voted to scrap a presidential primary last year.
Polls open in South Carolina on Saturday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Follow along with our live blog here.
