Live Updates: It’s Super Tuesday (Again), and It’s Super Yuuge
The Republican Party had one week to stop Trump. Tonight, we’ll see if their efforts are working.
By Lizi Xiong and Jessica Jin in Texas, Chris Woodside in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, Andrew Peng and Annie Song in New Jersey, Rachel Forrester and Mulan Burgess in New York, Gabriel Angelini in Massachusetts, DRyan Golden in North Carolina, Prathusha Yeruva in Michigan, Nicholas Zhao Rui and Alex Li in California, and Lucas Pringle in the UK.
Published at 7:00 a.m. EST
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the new Super Tuesday contests across five states. Poll closings range from 7 p.m. EST to 8 p.m. EST, starting with Florida, followed by Ohio and North Carolina, and finishing up with Missouri and Illinois.
Tonight, Ohio and Florida are the main focus on the Republican side, awarding 165 delegates total in critical winner-take-all contests that could put New York businessman Donald Trump on the path to the GOP nomination. However, Ohio governor John Kasich is eager to duel it out in his home state, bringing the GOP closer than ever to a contested convention and extending the race through the next few months. Finally, Florida senator Marco Rubio will face intensifying pressure to drop out if he loses his own home state; recent polling has indicated that he is far behind Trump.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is looking to tighten her grip on her party’s nomination, but after his surprise win last week in Michigan, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders is looking to cut into her delegate lead with an upset win in Ohio.
Results expected soon…
TRUMP WINS NC, IL — NETWORKS
9:30 p.m. EST — Comes after his Florida victory
Donald Trump has added North Carolina and Illinois to his number of state victories, according to NBC News and Fox News projections. He won Florida’s winner-take-all primary earlier tonight, but lost to John Kasich in Ohio.
Some Supreme Court News…
9:10 p.m. EST — WH could be ready for SCOTUS nominee announcement
Two alerts from Reuters indicate a major development in the fight over the vacancy on the nation’s highest court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia:
WHITE HOUSE READY FOR POSSIBLE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUPREME COURT NOMINEE ON WEDNESDAY
OBAMA’S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE LIKELY TO BE JUDGES SRI SRINIVASAN OR MERRICK GARLAND
KASICH, CLINTON WIN OHIO — AP
8:40 p.m. EST — The Sanders campaign had been hopeful for an upset win; Kasich’s win is a roadblock to a Trump nomination
Hillary Clinton is projected to win the Ohio Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, several networks are projecting a major win for Ohio governor John Kasich in his home state.
The former secretary of State’s victory in the Buckeye State means that she has successfully fended off her rival Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, boosting her delegate lead.
The Sanders campaign had hoped for an upset win after his victory in Michigan last week, and his campaign appeared to be gaining in polling shortly before today’s voters were cast.
Kasich’s victory in Ohio — a winner-take-all delegate contest — means he has successfully beat Donald Trump, making it his first victory of the 2016 election cycle.
Kasich’s campaign had considered the state a must-win.
RUBIO SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN
8:23 p.m. EST — After loss to Trump in Florida, the Senator says he does not see a viable path forward
BREAKING — Florida senator Marco Rubio has suspended his campaign, he announced at campaign headquarters in Miami. The news comes after his stinging loss to Donald Trump in Florida, his home state.
“Ours is a special nation because where you come from here doesn’t decide where you get to go,” he said. “This nation needs a vibrant and growing conservative movement…and a strong Republican party”
CLINTON WINS NORTH CAROLINA — NBC
8:15 p.m. EST — Meanwhile, Rubio is now speaking in Miami
Hillary Clinton has won in North Carolina, NBC News projects.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio is addressing supporters in Miami after his devastating loss to Donald Trump in Florida.
TRUMP, CLINTON PREVAIL IN FLORIDA
8:00 p.m. EST — A massive blow for Marco Rubio
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have won their respective primaries, according to network projections. Clinton extends her delegate lead over rival Bernie Sanders, while Florida senator Marco Rubio suffers a stunning defeat to the New York billionaire.
NC and OH Polls Close
7:30 p.m. EST — Races too early or close to call
Polls in Ohio and North Carolina have closed, and NBC News has the following characterization:
OHIO GOP — Too early to call, Kasich leading
OHIO DEM — Too early to call, Clinton leading
NORTH CAROLINA GOP — Too close to call, Trump and Cruz vying for first
NORTH CAROLINA DEM — Too early to call, Clinton leading
We’ll post updates as results roll in.
Early Florida Results: Clinton, Trump Lead
7:20 p.m. EST — Voting is ongoing in the state
Trump and Clinton are leading in the early results from the winner-take-all Florida primary, although voting is ongoing in the state.
With 11% in on the Republican side, Donald Trump leads with 47.2%. Florida’s own senator Marco Rubio follows with 24%, while Texas senator Ted Cruz trails with 15.8%.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads with 62.2%, while rival Bernie Sanders follows with 35.4%.
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