Super Tuesday GOP Results: Trump Wins Most States, But Cruz and Rubio Still Gain Delegates
"Super Tuesday," a date when nearly a dozen states host presidential primaries or caucuses, finally concluded and it was a good evening for several Republican candidates. Republican Party front-runner Donald Trump further cemented his lead against Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Ben Carson on Tuesday night.
Georgia
In Georgia, Trump won with 38.8 percent while Rubio and Cruz battled for second place. Georgia, with 76 delegates up for grabs, saw Rubio narrowly defeat Cruz with 24.5 percent to 23.6 percent. Georgia is not a "winner take all" state, therefore the 76 delegates will be split proportionally based on agreed guidelines.
Vermont
As Georgia polls closed at 7 p.m., so did Vermont. Trump won Vermont, but he encountered a very close battle against Kasich. Trump received 32.7 percent of the vote, but Kasich was behind with 30.4 percent. Rubio placed third with 19.3 percent, while Cruz went into single-digit territory with 9.7 percent, ahead of Carson's 4.2 percent. Based on projections, Trump and Kasich will each split Vermont's 16 delegates -- each receiving eight delegates. Rubio, Cruz and Carson will not receive delegates from Vermont.
Virginia
Trump's winning streak continued in Virginia. The real estate mogul narrowly defeated Rubio -- 34.7 percent vs. 31.9 percent. Cruz was a distant third place with 16.9 percent. In regards to delegates, 49 delegates were available -- 17 went for Trump, 16 for Rubio, 8 for Cruz, 5 for Kasich and 3 for Carson.
Alabama
In Alabama, among the four states with polls closing at 8 p.m. EST, Trump easily won with 43.4 percent. Cruz surpassed Rubio for second place, 21.1 percent vs. 18.7 percent. Trump secured most of the 50 available delegates, specifically 36 delegates, while Cruz won 13 delegates. Rubio didn't leave empty handed, as he won one delegate.
Massachusetts
Most of Massachusetts' 42 delegates went to Trump, who won the state's primary with 49 percent. Kasich performed well with 18.1 percent, narrowly ahead of Rubio's 17.9 percent. Cruz was in single digits with 9.6 percent. With Trump receiving 22 delegates, Kasich and Rubio each received 8 delegates, while Cruz won 4 delegates. Carson was the only GOP candidate not to win delegates in Massachusetts.
Oklahoma
Trump's winning streak was broken when Cruz won Oklahoma with 34.3 percent of the vote, winning 15 delegates. Trump placed second with 28.3 percent, winning 13 delegates. Rubio did well, winning 12 delegates and receiving 26 percent of the vote, but still finished third place. Carson and Kasich were in single digits and did not win delegates.
Tennessee
Tennessee gave Trump another win. With 58 delegates at stake, Trump won 31 delegates as a result of scoring 38.9 percent of the vote. Cruz and Rubio battled for second place, but it was the Texas senator who outperformed the Florida senator. Cruz won 14 delegates with 24.7 percent of the vote and Rubio won 10 delegates with 21.2 percent of the vote. Carson and Kasich did not win delegates.
Arkansas
It was a close contest in Arkansas between Cruz and Trump, but the Texas senator lost to the New York businessman. Trump received 32.7 percent, enough for 15 of the state's 40 delegates. Cruz won 12 delegates for winning 30.5 percent of the vote. Rubio placed third with 25 percent, or 8 delegates. Carson and Kasich did not win delegates.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, hosting a caucus, Rubio scored his first victory of the 2016 presidential contest. Rubio won Minnesota with 36.8 percent, comfortably ahead of Cruz's 28.9 percent, while Trump placed third with 21.2 percent. Carson and Kasich received 7.2 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.
Texas
In Texas, Cruz easily won his home state with 43.7 percent, ahead of Trump's 26.8 percent and Rubio's 17.8 percent. With 155 delegates available in Texas, Cruz won 84 delegates, while Trump scored 33 delegates. Rubio received two delegates. Kasich and Carson did not win delegates.
Alaska
Finally in Alaska, where former Gov. Sarah Palin had endorsed Trump for president, actually favored Cruz. The Texas senator won with 36.4 percent in the caucus state, narrowly ahead of Trump's 33.5 percent. Rubio was third with 15.1 percent. Despite the win, Cruz and Trump tied in the delegate count, each will receive 10 delegates. Rubio won four delegates while Carson and Kasich did not win delegates.
Post-Super Tuesday Plans
Rubio is looking ahead for the March 15 primaries, specifically Florida's election where it's a "winner take all" primary.
"Florida, I know you're ready. The pundits say we're underdogs, I'll accept that. We've all been underdogs. This is a community of underdogs. This is a state of underdogs. This is a country of underdogs. But we will win. And when we do, we will do what needs to be done. And our children will be the freest and most prosperous Americans that have ever lived. And the American Dream will change more lives than ever before. And we are going to leave for our children what Americans always leave their children: the single greatest nation in the history of all mankind," said Rubio on Tuesday night from Miami.
Cruz called on unity among his fellow GOP candidates to defeat Trump. Speaking from Texas, Cruz said, "So long as the field remains divided, Donald Trump's path to the nomination remains more likely and that would be a disaster for Republicans, for conservatives and for the nation."
Cruz later added that candidates who have not won a state to consider "coming together" with his presidential campaign.
According to RealClearPolitics, Trump has 281 delegates, Cruz has 162 delegates and Rubio has 87 delegates. Kasich has 25 delegates and Carson has eight delegates. A Republican presidential candidate must need 1,237 delegates to win the GOP's nomination.
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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
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