Election 2016: Trump, Clinton win Saturday contests; Bush drops out
February 20, 2016
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton came out on top in the latest round of voting in the 2016 election for president Saturday.
Trump easily won the Republican primary in South Carolina, while Clinton was able to edge out Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Caucus in Nevada.
With 100 percent of results in on the GOP side, Trump had about 32.5 percent of the primary vote. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were close in second and third, but Rubio came out with about a 1,000-vote lead.
Despite coming in more than 70,000 votes behind Trump, Rubio and Cruz both had a positive message to their supporters, saying they defied expectations and will both end up as the GOP nominee.
“Ronald Reagan made us believe that it was Morning in America again. And it was,” Rubio said. “Well, now the children of the Reagan Revolution are ready to assume the mantle of leadership.”
Jeb Bush, once seen as the front-runner before any candidates officially announced, received just less than 8 percent of the vote and announced to supporters he was suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination.
“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken,” Bush said. “I respect their decision. So, tonight, I am suspending my campaign. I congratulate my competitors, that are remaining on the island, on their success in a race that has been hard-fought, just as the contest for the presidency should be because it is a tough job.”
John Kasich was also just under 8 percent, fighting for forth place with Bush. Ben Carson addressed supporters and said he was not ending his campaign and would continue on after receiving just over 7 percent.
On the Democratic side, Clinton received 52.7 percent of the vote in Nevada, while Sanders had 47.2 percent. Sanders conceded to Clinton, but said he was proud of the race his campaign ran in the state.
After a blowout in New Hampshire and a razor-thin win in Iowa, Clinton was finally able to deliver a clear victory speech. In an email to supporters, Sanders touted how close the race was despite Clinton’s wide lead in the weeks before.
The nominating contests will continue this week, with Republicans caucusing in Nevada on Tuesday and Democrats voting in a primary in South Carolina on Saturday. Super Tuesday, when the most states will hold contests on one day, is March 1.