Locals pick Biden in primary

Published 8:53 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2020

: Wanda Dorman fills out her ballot Tuesday during the presidential primary in the City Council Chambers. About 21.6% of registered voters participated in the primary election. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Sanders takes 2nd place in Freeborn County

Freeborn County Democratic-Farmer-Labor voters on Tuesday followed suit with the rest of Minnesota and selected former Vice President Joe Biden as the favorite for the Democratic nomination for president.

Biden received 1,315 votes out of 3,851 total ballots cast in the primary.

In second was Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with 656 votes, followed by Michael R. Bloomberg with 255.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who dropped out of the race earlier this week, received 205 votes, while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren received 143.

A roll of “I voted” stickers sets on a podium in the City Council Chambers as election judges waited for voters from Ward 5 during the presidential primary on Tuesday. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

According to unofficial results, about 21.6% of registered voters participated in the primary election.

Albert Lea City Clerk Daphney Maras said election judges didn’t know what to expect for the state’s first presidential primary since 1992 — whether it would be busy or slow.

She said though it went slow, things went smoothly, and she credited the election judges at each site for the success.

In the Republican Party primary, 1,196 voters cast their ballot for President Donald Trump, while 10 selected a write-in candidate. Trump was the only name listed.

Total precincts reporting: 41

Voter turnout: 21.56%

Registered voters: 17,859

Ballots cast: 3,851

Ballots cast Republican: 1,208

Ballots cast DFL: 2,643

Ballots cast blank: 2

Republican Party

Donald Trump: 1,196

Write-in: 10

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Deval Patrick: 0

Tom Steyer: 4

Pete Buttigieg: 28

Amy Klobuchar: 205

Julian Castro: 0

John K. Delaney: 1

Marianne Williamson: 0

Bernie Sanders: 656

Andrew Yang: 6

Elizabeth Warren: 143

Tulsi Gabbard: 7

Michael R. Bloomberg: 255

Joseph Biden: 1,315

Cory Booker: 1

Michael Bennet: 4

Uncommitted: 16