Though it certainly feels like the 2020 election cycle has been going on for literal eons, complete with the constant barrage of fuckery we've come to expect here in the States, we are only just now approaching the concentrated madness of Super Tuesday.
The days leading up to the crucial March 3 date have included everything from wholly disappointing alignment with centrism from recently-dropped-out candidates to internal Public Enemy drama spawned by a Bernie Sanders co-sign.
For now, though, we'll focus on what exactly Super Tuesday even is by way of a handy and presumably readable guide for anyone who may be new to the bullshit or is simply in need of a pre-vote refresher
What's so "super" about it?
1,344 pledged delegates are at stake across Tuesday's primary and caucus events, which see a variance in poll closing times depending on the state. To ultimately bag the Democratic nomination, a candidate must win a final tally of 1,991 of the total 3,979 pledged delegates. Super Tuesday, in short, boasts the largest amount of primary elections and caucuses, meaning more delegates can be bagged on March 3 than on any other day. An additional 13 delegates representing Americans abroad are also up for grabs.
Who participates in this "super" day?
Participating regions for the 2020 edition—with corresponding delegate tallies in parentheses—are Alabama (52), American Samoa (6), Arkansas (31), California (415), Colorado (67), Maine (24), Massachusetts (91), Minnesota (75), North Carolina (110), Oklahoma (37), Tennessee (64), Texas (228), Utah (29), Virginia (99), and Vermont (16). Those aforementioned Democrats who are abroad, meanwhile, have a week to vote beginning on March 3.
California, obviously, is key here and holds 31 percent of the potentially won delegates on Tuesday.
Who stands a chance, super or otherwise?
Thanks to Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer having recently dropped out of the race, the issue of delegates gets a little complicated. Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar, in a clear effort to thwart Bernie Sanders' undeniable momentum off the strength of more progressive stances on the issues, have since given their respective endorsements to former VP Joe Biden.
The projected pledged delegate count for Sanders following the primary and caucus events in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina is 60. Biden, meanwhile, is currently at 54 after winning in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren is currently at eight awarded delegates.
While it seems likely Sanders will take the key state of California on Tuesday, increasing divisions within the Democratic Party mean that—unfortunately—nothing is a guarantee with regards to stepping out of the Super Tuesday shenanigans with a clear path toward the nomination.
For more info on Super Tuesday, including where and how to vote if you're among those in a participating region, please gather your things and head over here.
