Older Voters, Women Dominate Turnout in Latest Primaries


Older Voters, Women Dominate Turnout in Latest Primaries

Play all audios:


Hill Street Studios/Getty Images Facebook Twitter LinkedIn


Health care continued to be the most important issue on voters’ minds during this Democratic primary season as contests were held in six more states on Tuesday. Former Vice President Joe


Biden won Idaho, Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took North Dakota. Washington state's primary remained too close to call on Wednesday.


Voters over age 50 dominated the electorate in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Washington, according to exit poll data reported by CNN. Exit polls were not conducted in Idaho and North


Dakota. The available data also showed a higher turnout among women than men.


Members only


The next milestone in the 2020 presidential campaign comes Sunday, when Biden and Sanders are scheduled to debate on CNN, at 8 p.m. ET. The campaigns and the network jointly decided that,


due to the coronavirus, there will be no live audience for the debate, which will take place two days before primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.


Here's a snapshot of the electorate in the four Tuesday contests for which CNN and NBC News reported exit poll data.

Michigan


Turnout: 54 percent women


Age: 52 percent over age 50


Most important issue: Health care (41 percent)

Missouri


Turnout: 54 percent women


Age: 62 percent over age 50


Most important issue: Health care (47 percent)

Mississippi


Turnout: 58 percent women


Age: 62 percent over age 50


Most important issue: Health care (42 percent)

Washington


Turnout: 58 percent women


Age: 67 percent over age 50


Most important issue: Health care (37 percent)

%{postComment}%


Dena Bunis covered Medicare, health care, health policy and Congress. She also wrote the “Medicare Made Easy” column for the AARP Bulletin. An award-winning journalist, Bunis spent decades


working for metropolitan daily newspapers, including as Washington bureau chief for the Orange County Register and as a health policy and workplace writer for Newsday.


Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition


Join AARP to Continue Already a Member? Login


AARP NEWSLETTERS


%{ newsLetterPromoText  }%


%{ description }%

Subscribe See All Newsletters


Privacy Hub