As he wrestles with the challenges of the Democrat “uncommitted’ protest vote, Joe Biden faced a new opponent on Super Tuesday, and lost.
The president swept every Democratic contest in the early results, including taking Minnesota, the home state of nearest challenger Dean Phillips. But he didn’t reckon on the power of Jason Palmer in American Samoa.
Out of 91 ballots cast in the territory’s caucus, Palmer won 51 and Biden won 40, according to the local party. Officials initially gave Palmer four delegates and Biden three, before confirming that a rounding error had happened, and that they both in fact had three delegates each.
The outcome in the tiny collection of islands in the South Pacific with fewer than 50,000 residents is unlikely to derail Biden’s march toward his party’s nomination but sparked interest amid the more predictable results. Many greeted the news online with the question: who is Jason Palmer?
“I found out that I had won because my phone started blowing up with friends and campaign staffers texting me,” Palmer said in an interview with the Associated Press after the results were announced.
Palmer, a Maryland resident, said he’d never visited the territory before the caucus, but had been “campaigning remotely, doing Zoom town halls, talking to people, listening to them about their concerns and what matters to them”.
Honored to announce my victory in the American Samoa presidential primary. Thank you to the incredible community for your support. This win is a testament to the power of our voices. Together, we can rebuild the American Dream and shape a brighter future for all #VoteJasonPalmer pic.twitter.com/Txf771rhtI
— Jason Palmer (@educationpalmer) March 6, 2024
Palmer qualified for the presidential ballot in 16 US states and territories and, at 52, has promoted himself as one of the youngest Democratic candidates.
On the day before the caucus, Palmer posted on X that “Washington DC is long overdue for a president who will be an advocate for American Samoa.” His account includes pictures of young people holding homemade campaign signs.
“This win is a testament to the power of our voices. Together, we can rebuild the American Dream and shape a brighter future for all #VoteJasonPalmer,” he later added.
According to campaign finance records, Palmer has loaned his campaign more than $500,000 of his own money.
“You can’t take the money with you when you die,” he told AP. “But you can change the world while you’re here.”
Residents of US territories vote in primaries but do not have representation in the electoral college for the general election in November.
American Samoa has been the site of quixotic victories before. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s only win came in the territory.
With Associated Press
• This article was amended on 7 March 2024. An earlier version stated that Jason Palmer received four delegates, citing party officials. They later confirmed there had been a rounding error, and that Palmer had actually received three delegates.
