Preliminary elections where voters choose candidates for a main election; in biology, the main flight feathers of a bird's wing.
From Latin 'primarius' (of first rank or importance), from 'primus' (first). In politics, it refers to the first or preliminary round of elections; in biology, it describes the primary feathers essential for flight.
In U.S. politics, primaries are where 'democracy happens'—often with lower voter turnout than general elections, which means dedicated activists and particular voting blocs have outsized influence in choosing who runs, making them disproportionately powerful moments.
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