EXPLAINER
Palmer won against Biden in American Samoa, but had never visited the South Pacific territory before the caucus.
President Joe Biden won all but one of the Democratic races on Super Tuesday; American Samoa. Of 91 votes cast in American Samoa, a US territory in the South Pacific, Palmer won 51 and Biden won 40.
Here's what we know about Palmer and American Samoa's victory.
Who is Jason Palmer?
In addition to being a hopeful politician, Palmer, a Baltimore resident, is an entrepreneur. He has been actively involved in numerous businesses and non-profit organizations, primarily focusing on issues related to technology and education. The candidate said he believes voters are looking for a presidential candidate who embodies a more 21st-century perspective than Joe Biden.
In February, Palmer distanced himself from Biden on foreign policy and called for a ceasefire in Gaza in a video which was published in X.
“Israel's relentless attacks on the people of Gaza are inhumane,” Palmer said. “We need to withhold all military aid from Israel until a ceasefire is adopted, we must be in favor of peace in that region,” she added.
Did you ever hope to beat Biden?
Palmer launched his White House bid in November. On his official campaign website, he acknowledged that he had a very slim chance of winning.
“I know I'm an unlikely candidate with a very slim chance of winning,” Palmer said.
“Incumbent presidents almost always get a new nomination from their party. As a result, our campaign is less about winning and more about ideas, solutions and changing the conversation,” he added.
On his website, Palmer explains that he chose to run in the Democratic primary “because (1) I am a Democrat and (2) we do not want to play a spoiler role in this election.”
But Palmer, 52, also said he had never visited American Samoa before beating Biden there.
“I've been campaigning remotely, holding town hall meetings on Zoom, talking to people, listening to them about their concerns and what matters to them,” he said. According to campaign finance records, Palmer personally loaned his campaign more than $500,000.
“You can't take the money with you when you die,” he said. “But you can change the world while you're here.”
After Tuesday's victory, he thanked the community for its support of X. “I found out I had won because my phone started blowing up when my friends and campaign staff were texting me,” he told the Associated Press.
It is an honor to announce my victory in the American Samoa presidential primary. Thank you to the amazing community for your support. This victory is a testament to the power of our voices. Together we can rebuild the American dream and build a better future for all. #VoteJasonPalmer pic.twitter.com/Txf771rhtI
-Jason Palmer (@educationpalmer) March 6, 2024
Where is American Samoa?
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the US located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
The territory is slightly larger than Washington, DC and consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. According to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), about 46,620 inhabitants live on the islands.
American Samoans have representation in the electoral college, but are not eligible to vote in the November national election, as are U.S. citizens in other U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. . In total, 3.5 million Americans (98 percent of whom are ethnic or racial minorities) lack the right to vote in presidential elections.
Is this the first time American Samoa has achieved a surprising result?
No. In 2016, voters opted for unpledged delegates rather than voting for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
In 2020, Michael R. Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, scored a victory in the region, marking his only victory in the campaign.
