2024 election: What to make of the protest votes against Biden and Trump

Less than two months into the 2024 presidential primary calendar, a rematch between President Biden and former President Donald Trump appears to be the most likely scenario. However, recent protest votes against both Biden and Trump point to dissatisfaction with the current frontrunners of the Democratic and Republican parties. Yahoo News Chief National Correspondent Jon Ward explains what to make of the intraparty discord.

Video Transcript

JON WARD: So two months into the nominating process, President Biden and former President Trump both look like a lock to be their party's nominee. At the same time, both parties are also seeing substantial protest votes against both Biden and Trump. In the Democratic Party, there was a protest vote in Michigan. That was more of a protest against policy, but nonetheless taps into an ongoing concern about Biden.

GABRIELA SANTIAGO-ROMERO: This is the only way we can raise a flag to Democrats that you are going to lose unless you call for an ultimate ceasefire.

JON WARD: In the Republican Party, there's been a protest vote of sorts in a number of contests, most prominently New Hampshire and South Carolina. You know, there's a mix of protest against Trump, support for Haley. But a lot of that pro-Haley vote in the Republican primary is certainly an anti-Trump vote.

NIKKI HALEY: I know 40% is not 50%.

[LAUGHTER]

But I also know 40% is not some tiny group.

JON WARD: So if both of these candidates are having significant percentages of their own party's base voters vote against them, it speaks to that desire for alternatives and that distaste for the status quo that we have. So that's what's going on.

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