President Biden faced a defeat in the American Samoa caucus against a lesser-known Democratic candidate named Jason Palmer. Palmer, a 52-year-old tech entrepreneur with experience at Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has emphasised the need for a new generation of leaders and called for increased government focus on technology.
Preliminary results indicated Palmer’s unexpected success in surpassing Biden and other rivals like Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) in the American Samoa caucus, where six delegates were at stake. These results are expected to be officially confirmed on Friday. Palmer, who campaigned in the territory, expressed on social media the importance of having a president who advocates for American Samoa.
On his website, Palmer identifies himself as a Baltimore resident with a background in various businesses and nonprofits, particularly in the areas of technology and education.
It’s noteworthy that residents of U.S. territories, including American Samoa, participate in primaries but lack representation in the Electoral College. American Samoa has witnessed unexpected victories in the past, such as billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s sole win during the 2020 Democratic primaries.
