Biden and Trump barrel into Super Tuesday, toward a likely November rematch despite voter concerns

Trump seeks Republican nomination, facing challenges from Nikki Haley and legal issues, setting stage for Biden rematch.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are poised to move much closer to winning their parties’ nominations Tuesday during the biggest day of the primary campaign, despite many voters preferring something other than a November rematch from four years ago.

Super Tuesday elections are being held in 16 states and one territory — from Alaska and California to Vermont and Virginia. Hundreds of delegates are at stake, the biggest haul for either party on any single day.

Mr. Biden started off the night by winning Iowa, where Democrats previously held their contest but released results Tuesday.

While much of the focus is on the presidential race, there are also important down-ballot contests. California voters will choose candidates who will compete to fill the Senate seat long held by Dianne Feinstein. The Governor’s race will take shape in North Carolina, a state that both parties are fiercely contesting ahead of November. And in Los Angeles, a progressive prosecutor is attempting to fend off an intense reelection challenge in a contest that could serve as a barometer of the politics of crime.

The spotlight, however, remains on the 81-year-old Mr. Biden and the 77-year-old Mr. Trump, who continue to dominate their parties despite both facing questions about their age and neither commanding broad popularity across the general electorate.

The earliest either can become his party’s presumptive nominee is March 12 for Mr. Trump and March 19 for Mr. Biden. But in a departure from most previous Super Tuesdays, both nominations are effectively settled, with Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump both looking ahead to a reprise of the 2020 general election. Trump still faces one major challenger, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, but has mostly focused on Mr. Biden in his rallies and interviews.