Note: We will provide live results as they happen at the bottom of this post.
After many months of Southern brawls and other assorted mudslinging, Super Tuesday has finally arrived. Today more delegates are up for grabs than any other day of this already memorable presidential race. By the end of the night, about half of the Republican delegates shall be determined. Likewise, around a third of Democratic delegates shall fall in line. Several large states remain after this battle, but this is a major judgment day. Donald Trump is expected to take most if not all of the Super Tuesday states (other than Ted Cruz’s home state of Texas), and Hillary Clinton is poised to sweep as well (with the exception of Bernie Sanders’ Vermont). When this happens, both candidates will be difficult to topple, although it can be done.
Before today, four states voted in primaries or caucuses. In Iowa, Ted Cruz plowed past Trump, and Clinton landed in a “virtual tie” with Bernie Sanders. Subsequently, New Hampshire went to Trump and Sanders; Nevada landed with Trump and Clinton; and South Carolina fell to Trump and Clinton. This Tuesday, more states — Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming — plus one territory (American Samoa) will lay down their truths. Some of the results from these states will be known early. Some we may not know until Wednesday morning.
A yuuuuge focus today will take place in Texas, which is Cruz’s biggest concern. Trump lobbied hard in the state and even trucked out Chris Christie’s endorsement at a Fort Worth rally, and it’s no wonder why. The Lone Star state has 155 Republican delegates (and 222 Democratic ones) up for the taking. Cruz must capture Texas in order to have a fighting chance at the GOP nomination. Should Trump take this state, we could see a full-on Cruz meltdown.
(Note: Texas also has a weird rule where, theoretically speaking, only the top two candidates will nab delegates, so Marco Rubio could conceivably be shut out from this state, should he arrive in third place across the state and throughout all districts. No one’s too concerned about John Kasich or Ben Carson anywhere today, though they’ll nab votes from the top three.)
Votes will be cast, and people will caucus. Let’s roll.
The first polls close at 7 p.m. EST and we will have full coverage running right here throughout the day and evening. Here’s an early morning reminder of what’s at stake for the GOP, coming right at you from Ted Cruz’s polling place.
https://twitter.com/RosieGray/status/704708493056446464
Alabama
Democrats: Clinton (79%) takes a massive lead over Sanders (18%).
GOP: Trump (43%) claims this win with Cruz (21%) and Rubio (18%) trailing behind.
Alaska (Caucus)
GOP: With 60% of results in, estimates from Sarah Palin’s “I can see Russia” vantage point toss a narrow victory to Cruz (36%) with Trump (34%) and Rubio (16%) representing in the dead of the night.
Arkansas
Democrats: Clinton (69%) makes the most of this state’s lingering goodwill to beat Sanders (28%).
GOP: This was a close one! In the end, the state fell to Trump (33%), Cruz, (30%), and Rubio (25%).
Colorado (Caucus)
Democrats: Sanders (58%) racks up a victory over Clinton (42%).
Georgia
Democrats: Clinton (71%) takes a landslide win over Sanders (28%).
GOP: Trump (39%) wins this one. Rubio (25%) and Cruz (23%) pick up the rest.
Massachusetts
Democrats: Clinton (50%) and Sanders (48%) score almost evenly here.
GOP: Trump (48%) takes this state. Kasich (18%) and Rubio (18%) follow.
Minnesota (Caucus)
Democrats: Sanders (59.3%) nabs this state away from Clinton (40.7%)
GOP: Rubio (36.4%) miraculously WINS this state. Cruz (29%) comes in second with Trump (21.4%) taking the “loser” position of third.
Oklahoma
Democrats: Sanders (52%) lands an important win over Clinton (41%).
GOP: This state proved to be far more competitive than expected. Cruz (34%) surprises with a victory while Trump (28%) and Rubio (26%) pluck up the rest of the votes.
Tennessee
Democrats: Clinton (66.1%) takes this victory and holds back Sanders (32.4%).
GOP: Trump (40%) lands this state with Cruz (25%) and Rubio (21%) far behind.
Texas
Democrats: Clinton (66%) sweeps the Lone Star State over Sanders (32%).
GOP: Cruz proudly claims his home state (43%) with Trump (27%) and Rubio (17%) following.
Vermont
Democrats: Sanders (86%) easily takes his home state over Clinton (13%).
GOP: Trump (32%) squeaks by Kasich (31%) with Rubio (19%) in third spot.
Virginia
Democrats: Clinton (64%) rises over Sanders (35%) in this prime battle state.
GOP: Trump (35%) barely takes this one over Rubio (32%) with Cruz (17%) following.
American Samoa
Democrats: Clinton gathered up a nice cherry atop her several state wins.
Democrat State Wins
Clinton (7 States): Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Sanders (4 States): Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont
GOP State Wins
Trump (7 States): Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia
Cruz (3 States): Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma
Rubio (1 State): Minnesota
Delegates Needed For A Party Nomination
Democrats: 2383 (Hillary has 1055 after tonight.)
GOP: 1237 (Trump has 315 after tonight.)
(Via CNN)