Biden Gets Surprise Defeat In American Samoa’s Democratic Primary To Entrepreneur Jason Palmer

President Joe Biden faced his first defeat in the Democratic presidential primaries, courtesy of a previously unknown candidate, venture capitalist Jason Palmer.

Palmer, who hails from Baltimore, announced his gratitude and triumph via X: “Honored to announce my victory in the American Samoa presidential primary. Thank you to the incredible community for your support. This win is a testament to the power of our voices. Together, we can rebuild the American Dream and shape a brighter future for all.” 

While Palmer secured the win in the minute U.S. territory, where the election typically sees participation from fewer than 100 individuals, it is unlikely to impede Biden’s commanding march toward securing the Democratic nomination.

Palmer’s campaign, which relied on a virtual presence rather than an in-person visit to the island, involved three full-time campaign staffers. Palmer expressed surprise at his victory in an interview with CNN and attributed his success to his local team’s exceptional performance and the resonance of his message focused on education, healthcare and climate change.

While Palmer commended Biden for his remarkable service, he called on the president to pass the torch to the next generation of Americans.

With no prior political experience, Palmer embarked on his ambitious White House bid in November. Currently serving as a partner at New Markets Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, he boasts an impressive professional background, having worked at esteemed organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft and Kaplan, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile.

The 52-year-old acknowledges on his campaign website that his candidacy is a longshot endeavor with limited chances of victory. However, he emphasizes that his campaign is centered around ideas, solutions, and changing the conversation. Running in the Democratic primary, Palmer states on his website, “because (1) I’m a Democrat, and (2) we don’t want to play a spoiler role in this election.”

About Republican front-runner Donald Trump, Palmer asserted, “This is the most important election of the 21st century, and it is extremely important to keep Trump from returning to office for a second term.”

Despite projections showing the president’s loss in American Samoa, the Biden campaign dismissed the outcome as “silly news.” Campaign officials emphasized that the number of votes expected in American Samoa is minimal and highlighted that Michael Bloomberg secured victory in the Democratic race there in 2020.

Pressed for further details, a Biden campaign official noted that Palmer had a “platform of being an advocate for American Samoa.”

In a video announcing his candidacy, Palmer pledged to champion the cause of young Americans and outlined his vision for a “talent economy powered by mission-driven entrepreneurs and conscious capitalism.”

Last year, Palmer participated in the “Lesser-Known Candidate Forum” organized by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. He was among the 18 Democratic presidential hopefuls lacking national name recognition, showcasing his commitment to engaging in the democratic process and amplifying his progressive ideals.

Meanwhile, a better-known candidate, Marianne Williamson, withdrew and then re-entered the campaign but still has not managed to win any delegates.