Super Tuesday In Virginia: What Voters Need To Know At Polls

VIRGINIA — As the Democratic field of presidential candidates continues to narrow, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden head into Super Tuesday fighting for the frontrunner spot. Super Tuesday presents a key challenge for candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, with delegates up for grabs in Virginia, 13 other states and one U.S. territory, on March 3. Polls are open in Virginia from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In all, 1,357 pledged delegates will be awarded on Super Tuesday, representing 34 percent of the total. Leading up to Super Tuesday, Sanders leads the Democratic field with 58 committed delegates, followed by Biden with 50 delegates. Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out of the race Sunday night, has 26 committed delegates. Elizabeth Warren remains in the race with eight delegates, while Amy Klobuchar has seven delegates but dropped out Monday.

Virginia has 99 Democratic delegates up for grabs, which is the fourth-largest allocation on Super Tuesday. California's 415 delegates gives it the largest delegate count in the U.S. The next highest delegate counts on Super Tuesday will be Texas with 228, North Carolina with 110 and Virginia with 99. Delegates will choose the nominee for the Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention in July.

The Republican Party, which does not have a presidential primary election in Virginia, will hold the Republican National Convention in August.

In Arlinton County, voters appear to be coalescing around Biden now that Buttigieg has dropped out, although Sanders has sizeable support in the county.

On the way out of the polling station at Arlington's Buckingham precinct early Tuesday morning, Elise Castelli told Patch she voted for Biden, but that her first choice was Buttigieg. “I really liked Buttigieg. We’re the same generation,” she said.

But switching to Biden was not a tough choice for Castelli. “I really respect Joe Biden. I believe he has good, solid polices that a lot of Americans can get behind and move us forward and bring us together. I think he’s better positioned to beat Donald Trump in November,” she said.

Arlington residents Cecilia Gallagher and Mauricio Armaza, who are dating, told Patch they voted for different candidates. Armaza voted for Biden due in part to his belief that the former vice president would succeed at working with Congress to make improvements to the health care system. From a strategic standpoint, he appreciated how Buttigieg and Klobachar dropped out prior to Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden.

Gallagher countered that progressives now need to come together around a candidate to fend off the moderates. “Bernie is the only person that can carry us through the general election and put a progressive in the White House,” she said.

Also at the Buckingham precinct, Ignatzia Kaldahl said she voted for Sanders, partly because she respects him for being “enduringly consistent,” even if she doesn’t agree with all of his policies. The top issues for Kaldahl are climate change and education. Asked what she would due in November if former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg won the Democratic nomination, Kaldahl responded: “It would physically pain me to vote for Bloomberg in November, but I think I would have to.”

Virginia voters are not registered by party, so any registered voter can cast a ballot in the Democratic presidential primary. Before you head to the polls, check your voter registration status and polling place on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

An acceptable form of photo identification is required to vote in Virginia. Voters who do not bring a photo ID can cast a provisional ballot and follow instructions provided by an election officer so their vote counts.

While candidates are looking for key victories in delegate-rich California and Texas, the primary race has touched Virginia. Sanders held three Virginia rallies in the days leading up to Super Tuesday, including one with Rep. Ilhan Omar in Springfield.

Biden campaigned in Norfolk Sunday and received endorsements from key Virginia officials, including Sen. Tim Kaine, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Northern Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton. Rep. Don Beyer, another member of the Northern Virginia congressional delegation, endorsed Biden after Buttigieg dropped out of the race.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has not won any delegates but has made Virginia and other Super Tuesday states a focus. Bloomberg held a "Women for Mike" event in Tysons on Feb. 29.

Voters will see candidates who dropped out of the race on their ballot, because 14 Democratic candidates qualified for the presidential primary in Virginia. To date, candidates no longer in the running are: Cory Booker, Julián Castro, Marianne Williamson, Michael Bennet, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang.

Virginia has historically favored centrist Democratic candidates for president. In 2016, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the Virginia Democratic primary against Sanders, 64 percent to 35 percent.

Recent polling has not indicated a clear frontrunner in Virginia. A poll conducted by Christopher Newport University from Feb. 3 to 24 among 561 likely voters showed Biden with 22 percent, Sanders with 17 percent and Bloomberg with 13 percent.

A data for Progress poll of 499 likely voters from Feb. 23 to 25 had Sanders at 28 percent, Biden at 19 percent, Warren at 17 percent and Bloomberg at 17 percent.

Monmouth University's poll of 400 likely voters, released Feb. 18, showed Bloomberg and Sanders tied at 22 percent, followed by Biden at 18 percent, Buttigieg at 11 percent, Klobuchar at 9 percent and Warren at 5 percent.

Patch editor Mark Hand contributed to this report.