As expected, President Joe Biden won Hawaii's Democratic caucus on Wednesday and took another step closer toward solidifying his nomination for a second term in the White House.
According to USA Today, Biden leads all candidates with 66% of the vote, with 99% of the vote counted as he swept through Super Tuesday like a gale force wind. However, only 1,500 residents cast ballots, with 29.1% writing in "uncommitted."
That is the highest percentage of "uncommitted" ballots in any state this election cycle.
This comes as many progressives have voted "uncommitted" in response to Biden's handling of the conflict in Gaza and the greater Middle East.
USA Today quoted Barbara Altemus, a 74-year-old woman who voted "uncommitted" to send a message. "I'm not agreeing with Hamas. I don't believe in violence," Altemus told USA Today. "But if you look at the violence, neither side is right, I hope that Biden and the Democratic Party, wake up (to this). "
According to Micah Kosasa, a district chair with the Hawaii Democratic Party, the contest, organized by the party, blended aspects of both a primary and a caucus.
"We used to have a (traditional) caucus," Kosasa said. "That is not the setup anymore that we are doing. It's much more of a poll where you just fill out a ballot and turn it in."
Results were released by local party officials after 10 pm, withholding the delegation allocation as results continued to come in. Thus, the distribution of Hawaii's 22 delegates remains pending.
