NEW YORK STATE – The 2024 United States Presidential primary elections for the State of New York took place on Tuesday, April 2. 

For the Republican primary, 45th President Donald Trump earned 82.1 percent (131,671) of the vote out of 160,459 votes. Despite dropping out of the race last month, Nikki Haley received 12.9 percent of the vote, while Chris Christie (4 percent) and Vivek Ramaswamy (1 percent) each received votes despite dropping out in January. 

Out of 832 total Republican votes cast in Sullivan County, Trump earned 84 percent with 11 percent for Haley and four percent for Christie. 

For the Democratic primary, 46th President Incumbent Joe Biden earned 91.5 percent of the vote (276,770) out of 302,548 votes cast. Author, speaker and politician, Marianne Williamson got 4.9 percent and U.S. Representative in Minnesota’s 3rd District, Dean Phillips received 3.6 percent. 

Out of 855 total Democratic votes cast in Sullivan County, Biden received 91 percent of the vote with Williamson getting five percent and Phillips earning four percent. 

Both the Democratic and Republican primaries in New York were called by the Associated Press with 93 percent of the votes in. 

Leave it blank 

According to several sources, Pro-Palestine activists in New York urged voters up to a month prior to Tuesday’s primary election to submit blank ballots in the Democratic primary race. This was a statewide effort, called “Leave It Blank”, to pressure President Biden to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Well-known actor Mark Ruffalo, who calls Sullivan County home, was one of the activists to urge voters to “Leave It Blank” which he posted on his social media platforms. 

The amount of blank ballots will not be known until the results are formally certified in a few weeks, according to state Board of Elections officials. 

The primary election for State and Federal offices which includes state Assembly, State Senate and Congress will be held on June 25. The General Election for all races, including president, will occur on November 5.