It's Super Tuesday for 16 states across the nation, including in Massachusetts, with voters weighing in on the presidential primaries.
The current and former presidents, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, won their respective races in the Bay State. Still, both were facing opposition — Trump from Republican primary rival Nikki Haley, Biden from a grassroots movement to write in "ceasefire" or something similar as a protest for his policies in the Israel-Hamas War.
Haley won Vermont, the first state she has carried in the Republican primary.
Biden notched early victories in Massachusetts, Maine and and Vermont, where NBC News projected him the winner soon after polls closed. A short time later, Trump was projected as the winner of Maine's and Massachusetts' Republican primaries.
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A decent turnout was expected at polls across Massachusetts, and Secretary of State Bill Galvin said a significant number of mail-in ballots were already sent in during early voting.
"We've had well over 350,000 Democratic ballots cast. We will probably double that. We've already had well over 150,000 ballots cast in the Republican primary. And given the size of the Republican Party in Massachusetts, that's an impressive number," Galvin said.
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The Trump campaign was holding a watch party in Quincy Tuesday night, hoping for a big momentum boost from the day's results. They won't let him clinch the nomination mathematically, but taking most of the 865 delegates up for grabs should cement his place.
Still, Haley wasn't giving up — she'd campaigned across the country in the last week, including in Massachusetts and Vermont. Her campaign, which didn't have any events in Massachusetts Tuesday, also indicated that she had no plan to drop out no matter how the results shook out.
Massachusetts Democrats were holding a watch party at the historic Bell in Hand bar near Faneuil Hall. Biden faces only token opposition, from Minnesota Congressman Steve Kerrigan and author Marianne Williamson.
Steve Kerrigan, the chair of the state party, said his colleagues were not only watching results in Massachusetts' race but Republican results across the country.
"Our folks are gathered to both celebrate the kickoff of the general election and to sort of watch how the other side is faring tonight and get ready for the fight that lies ahead," Kerrigan said.
Since the Republican race for president is more hotly contested, more than 15,000 Democrats have recently unenrolled or switched their enrollment to Republican. That essentially allows them to vote in the GOP presidential primary.
"The Democratic Party in Massachusetts is now down to 27% of enrolled voters," Galvin said.
Democratic officials said that's not uncommon ahead of primaries. Kerrigan said it would be important getting independent voters on board in the general election: "There is too much at stake. This is the most important election in our lifetime and the time to step up and do the work is now."
State election officials were hoping for a decent turnout overall, whether it's getting in some of the roughly 300,000 mail-in ballots that have yet to be received or people coming out to vote in person.
Voters at the polls in Massachusetts on Tuesday said it was a big election for the future of the country.
"Super important to vote!" voter Gena Comenzo said.
"I'm nervous about the direction the country is going in, not happy, I'm actually a little afraid, so I want to go out and I want to vote and I want things to change," added voter Ellen Pierce.
Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Maine, Vermont voters also head to the polls on Super Tuesday
Other New England states voting on Super Tuesday were Maine and Vermont.
For the first time ever, unenrolled Maine voters are able to participate in the state's presidential primary due to a change in the law that took effect Jan. 1.
In Vermont, Tuesday was also Town Meeting Day in Vermont, with numerous local ballot items and elections. Here's a full list of some of the major items and races up for a vote.
