Louisiana Postpones Primary, Will Others Follow? Here Are The Remaining Contests

Topline: Louisiana became the first state on Friday to reschedule its primary following mounting concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and more states could soon follow suit.

Here’s where the remaining contests stand:

• Louisiana’s April 4 primary will now take place on June 20, said state secretary Kyle Ardoin.
• Poll workers in Louisiana tend to be elderly, and state officials want to keep them safe, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Northern Mariana Islands are set to vote Saturday, and on Tuesday, March 17, voters are going to the polls in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio; next, on March 24, Georgia will vote, followed by Puerto Rico on March 29.
• Primary contests set for April: Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
• In May: Guam, Kansas, Indiana, Nebraska, West Virginia, Kentucky and Oregon.
• And in June: the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, the U.S. Virgin Islands (and now Louisiana).

Crucial quote: “If voters are members of an at-risk population, exhibiting symptoms, or have been exposed to a diagnosed case of COVID-19, we encourage them to explore absentee ballots and vote by mail options,” said Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager for former Vice President Joe Biden, in a statement to the WSJ.

Key background: The coronavirus pandemic has left few parts of American life untouched, including the race for the White House. Over the last few months, coronavirus⁠—officially named COVID-19⁠—has spread quickly from Wuhan, China, to the rest of the world, with Italy, Iran and South Korea dealing with the most severe outbreaks outside of China. According to the New York Times, more than 135,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide and nearly 5,000 people have died as of Friday. In the U.S., state and local governments have begun limiting large gatherings of people to fight disease transmission, and countless sporting and entertainment events have been canceled. Before Louisiana rescheduled its primary, the upcoming Sunday Democratic debate was moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to a CNN studio in Washington, D.C. Along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Biden, President Trump has also cancelled campaign rallies due to the outbreak.