For weeks now, primary after primary, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have held onto their front runner positions. Throughout the campaigns, Clinton and Trump have been predicted as the presidential nominees by The New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, and so on. They have also been endorsed by hundreds of politicians, celebrities, newspapers, labor unions, and organizations. Her list of endorsements can be found here, and his here. The nomination is starting to become a reality for Clinton and Trump.
On Tuesday, Mar. 15, 2016, the third Super Tuesday occurred in five states, and one territory across the nation. Primaries were held in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and North Mariana Islands. The remaining candidates in the running include Democrats Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and Republicans Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich.
Here are the winners in the respective states:
- Florida: Clinton and Trump
- Illinois: Clinton and Trump
- Missouri: Clinton and Trump
- North Carolina: Clinton and Trump
- Ohio: Clinton and Kasich
- North Mariana Islands: Trump (The Democratic caucus was held on Mar. 12., Clinton won).
After Tuesday, Clinton remains in the lead in the Democratic Party with 1,606 delegates, followed by Bernie Sanders with 851, both a combination of delegates and superdelegates. In the Republican Party, frontrunner Trump also remains in the lead with 678 delegates, followed by Cruz with 413, and finally Kasich with 143. Less delegates are needed to win the Republican nomination because unlike the Democratic Party there are no superdelegates.
Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri: We did it. And together, we’re going to win this nomination. pic.twitter.com/6uPW4X3RUJ
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 16, 2016
Yesterday was amazing—5 victories. Lyin’ Ted Cruz
had zero. Things are going very well!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2016
Only 2,383 delegates are needed to win the Democratic nomination, and 1,237 delegates to win the Republican, making both Clinton and Trump well over halfway there.
Following Tuesday night’s results, Florida Senator Marco Rubio decided to suspend his campaign after losing in his home state. In his exit speech, Rubio stated that it is “not God’s plan that [he] be president in 2016” (CNN). There is speculation that he will endorse Cruz now that he has dropped out.
The next set of primaries will be held today on Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2016, which will include Arizona, Utah, and Idaho’s Democratic caucus. The remainder of the schedule and list of results can be found here.
