JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) 鈥 President Joe Biden nudged further ahead in the Democratic nomination for reelection by winning the party caucuses in Wyoming and was the only choice on the ballot later Saturday in Alaska.
As two of the least populated states, Alaska and Wyoming play minuscule roles in both intraparty and general election voting in presidential election years.
Biden effectively the Democratic nomination on March 12 with the Georgia primary and is now all but certain to face former President as the Republican nominee in November.
ALASKA
Alaska Democrats are holding a voice vote for their party-run preference poll at in-person and virtual district meetings.
Biden's is the lone candidate eligible to receive votes after the other Democrat to qualify, Dean Phillips, suspended his campaign last month. The vote is being held during meetings where other party business is conducted.
The polling was delayed a week. Democrats had planned a ranked vote election by mail on April 6 but those plans changed when only Biden and Phillips qualified for the ballot and when Phillips suspended his run.
Changes to their plan were approved by the Democratic 好色tv Committee.
There were no provisions for write-ins or uncommitted, said Lindsay Kavanaugh, the Alaska party鈥檚 executive director.
鈥淭here is no option to vote nay,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou can abstain. You don鈥檛 vote yes or no, you vote for a candidate.鈥
The party proceeded with a vote, even with just one candidate, 鈥渢o make sure we鈥檙e as inclusive as possible,鈥 she said, and to avoid any inference that party leaders were deciding candidates themselves.
Alaska will allocate 15 pledged delegates based on the vote.
WYOMING
Biden won in Wyoming, where polling determined which candidate got the state's 17 national delegates.
The caucuses also decided who goes to the state Democratic convention on June 1 in Casper. There, 13 of Wyoming's national convention delegates will be chosen.
Wyoming鈥檚 other four 鈥渁utomatic鈥 national delegates are the state party chairman, vice chair and two national committee people, who have not yet pledged for Biden or anyone else.
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Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
