The next round of voting in the Republican nomination process will take place on Tuesday, March 8. Though it isn’t as consequential as the following week, when states can start allocating delegates to a single candidate on a winner-take-all basis, the states voting on Tuesday will help clarify the party’s likely nominee. Here’s what to look for in each of the states voting on Tuesday:
Hawaii (19 Delegates)
This is a caucus state without much polling. Ted Cruz has generally done well in caucus states so far, likely because they are more time-consuming than primaries and more likely to draw-in dedicated conservative activists. Hawaii is also a less white state, which could hurt Donald Trump.
Idaho (32 Delegates)
Trump was leading the most recent polls here. It is a rural and largely white state, both characteristics that have favored the New York businessman in previous primary contests. Still, Cruz has been campaigning here and could make a dent — he gave his Super Saturday speech from the state.
Mississippi (40 Delegates)
The most recent polls taken in this state were from before Super Tuesday, but they saw Trump leading by a healthy margin. So far, Trump has swept much of the South, so he’ll be expecting a win here. Mississippi has the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.8%; that also bodes well for a populist candidate like Trump.
Michigan (59 Delegates)
This is the big prize on Tuesday, and a surprising candidate has entered the mix as a contender in this particular race: Ohio Governor John Kasich. Normally, Wolverines and Buckeyes don’t get along, but the last poll in Michigan had Kasich edging out Trump. A stronger than expected showing for Cruz here would help prove his viability as a candidate, while a Trump win would set things up nicely for the businessman heading into the Ohio vote next week.
