Jason Palmer Photo: X / Free & Equal Elections
A previously unknown entrepreneur has beaten Joe Biden in the American Samoa Democratic caucus on Wednesday.
Voters in 16 US states and one US territory have chosen their presidential candidate in the primaries.
American Samoa entrepreneur Jason Palmer won the most votes at 51 (51.56 percent), Biden got 40 (44 percent) and Dean Philips did not receive any votes.
Palmer was the only one out of the three presidential candidates who had actively campaigned, wooing voters through zoom, even throducing himself in broken Samoan, "Talofa," he said.
The American Samoa Democratic Party had first announced that with the vote count, Palmer will receive four delegates at the National Democratic Convention while Biden gets two. However it later issued a correction on the delegate count saying that Palmer and Biden will each get three delegates.
Every American deserves an advocate who will champion their cause & amplify their voices. Whether addressing climate change, enhancing healthcare, or improving education, the aspirations of American Samoans resonate with the long-awaited change we all seek https://t.co/U8aANUa3hN pic.twitter.com/TYDMb2MVXN
— Jason Palmer (@educationpalmer) March 6, 2024
Palmer was the only one of the three presidential candidates who had actively campaigned prior to the votes.
He told the caucus it's time for a younger leader to take the reins in Washington.
"This is an opportunbity to make your voices heard," Palmer said.
"There is a younger generation waiting to take the lead and actually solve all these problems. Washington is very very broken."
"Every American deserves an advocate who will champion their cause & amplify their voices," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The total number of ballots that were counted was 91.
Based on the results, Palmer will receive four votes at the National Democratic Convention while Mr Biden gets two.
The American Samoa Democratic Party will certify the results on Friday as well as its delegate selection for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.
