Apr 28, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Joe Biden wins Ohio's mail-in Democratic primary

Joe Biden

Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden won Ohio's Democratic primary on Tuesday, according to AP.

Why it matters: Biden is the lone Democrat left running for president. But his former competitor Sen. Bernie Sanders has encouraged his supporters to continue voting for him in presidential primaries to help gain leverage over the party's platform at the Democratic National Convention.

Between the lines: Ohio's election is the first real test for full mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. The state canceled in-person voting in March and instead moved to extend the vote-by-mail deadline until Tuesday.

  • Governments are currently having to grapple with how to safely hold elections in November, with the likelihood that some social distancing restrictions will remain in place for months.
  • Per AP, the state saw about 1.5 million votes by midday Saturday, compared to 3.2 million cast in the state's 2016 presidential primary.
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