2000 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary explained

Election Name:2000 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary
Country:Rhode Island
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1996 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary
Previous Year:1996
Next Election:2004 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary
Next Year:2004
Candidate1:Al Gore
Colour1:3333FF
Home State1:Tennessee
Delegate Count1:13
Popular Vote1:26,801
Percentage1:56.92%
Candidate2:Bill Bradley
Colour2:FA8320
Home State2:New Jersey
Delegate Count2:9
Popular Vote2:19,000
Percentage2:40.35%
Map Size:250px
Outgoing Members:OH
Elected Members:VT
Votes For Election:33 delegates to the Democratic National Convention (22 pledged, 11 unpledged)
The number of pledged delegates received is determined by the popular vote

The 2000 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary took place on March 7, 2000, as one of 15 states and one territory holding primaries on the same day, known as Super Tuesday, in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2000 presidential election. The Rhode Island primary was a semi-closed primary, with the state awarding 33 delegates, of whom 22 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the primary results.

Vice president Al Gore won the primary with almost 57% of the vote and 13 delegates, while senator Bill Bradley won only roughly 40% of the vote and secured 9 delegates. The remaining 3% went to one other candidate, Lyndon LaRouche Jr., write-in votes and an uncommitted option. Gore did not cross the necessary majority of 2,171 delegates to officially win the Democratic nomination after Super Tuesday, but Bradley would withdraw three days later, leaving Gore as the presumptive nominee.[1]

Procedure

Rhode Island was one of 15 states and one territory holding primaries on Super Tuesday.[2]

Voting took place throughout the state from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. In the semi-closed primary, candidates had to meet a threshold of 15% at the congressional district or statewide level to be considered viable. The 26 pledged delegates to the 2000 Democratic National Convention were allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of these, 7 each were allocated to both of the state's 2 congressional districts and another 3 were allocated to party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates), in addition to 5 at-large delegates.[3]

The delegation also included 9 unpledged PLEO delegates: 7 members of the Democratic National Committee, 3 members of Congress (One senator, Jack Reed, and two representatives, Patrick Kennedy and Robert Weygand), and 1 add-on.[3]

Pledged national
convention
delegates
Type
CD17
CD27
3
At-large5
Total pledged delegates22

Candidates

The following candidates appeared on the ballot:

There was also an uncommitted option.

Results

2000 Rhode Island Democratic presidential primary[4] ! Candidate! Votes! %! Delegates[5]
Al Gore26,80156.9213
Bill Bradley19,00040.359
Uncommitted8441.7911
Write-in votes2410.51rowspan=2
Lyndon LaRouche Jr.1990.42
Total46,844100%33

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bush, Gore Clinch Nominations. March 15, 2000. September 13, 2023.
  2. Web site: Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Chronologically - Key and Minor Dates. The Green Papers. September 13, 2023.
  3. Web site: Rhode Island Democratic Delegation 2000. The Green Papers. December 26, 2000. September 17, 2023.
  4. Web site: Presidential Preference Primary. Rhode Island State Board of Elections. September 17, 2023.
  5. Web site: Election 2000: Rhode Island Democrat. The Green Papers. September 17, 2023.