In a stunning but politically inconsequential upset on Tremendous Tuesday, President Joe Biden misplaced the American Samoa Democratic caucuses to entrepreneur Jason Palmer.
On Tuesday evening, the native Democratic Get together chair confirmed to ABC Information that Palmer received, although the poll whole was tiny, with lower than 100 votes between each candidates.
With 99% of the anticipated vote reporting, Palmer leads with 56% of the vote, adopted by Biden with 44%.
The outcomes mark Biden’s first loss within the nominating race to this point. That does not meaningfully change his monumental lead total, nevertheless, as he seems set for a basic election rematch with former President Donald Trump.
So who’s Jason Palmer?
In accordance with his candidate web site, Palmer boasts of beforehand serving in government and management positions at a number of organizations, together with Microsoft, Kaplan Schooling, the Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis and the influence investor agency New Markets Enterprise Companions.
Palmer has pointed to that have in pitching himself as a “downside solver” within the presidential race, promising to create a brand new Division of Innovation and Expertise.
“I saved ready for somebody with a enterprise background to affix the race. Once they didn’t, I made a decision to run based mostly on my robust enterprise background,” he mentioned final 12 months, in keeping with MarketWatch.
The enterprise information outlet additionally reported that Palmer helps “freedom of alternative, speech and faith.”
“Palmer brings twenty-five years of expertise in small enterprise and multi-partisan fluency to his political endeavors,” his web site states, including, “As an schooling expertise entrepreneur, government, and investor, he presents uncommon ranges of experience.”
Talking with Politico earlier this 12 months, Palmer additionally cited Biden and Trump’s ages, at 81 and 77, in comparison with his personal age, which Politico reported was 52.
“It is tremendous essential that the subsequent president of america be somebody who actually understands younger folks,” Palmer mentioned.
“We have to move the torch to a brand new era of Individuals,” he advised Politico, including that he believes the nation’s legal guidelines must be up to date extra typically than they’re now.
A Biden marketing campaign spokesperson dismissed the loss in American Samoa, telling ABC Information on Tuesday evening that there are distinctive politics on the island.
American Samoa is a U.S. territory and never a state — so it doesn’t forged electoral votes for president. Nonetheless, it does maintain major caucuses.
In 2020, former New York Metropolis Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the Democratic winner; in 2016, the final contested Republican caucuses, Trump received.
The Republican presidential caucus shall be held on Friday.
ABC Information’ Libby Cathey, Oren Oppenheim and Brittany Shepherd contributed to this report.