In the Illinois presidential primaries, billionaire Donald Trump scored a decisive victory, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held off Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in a tight race
The state's Republican primary was called for Trump early in the night. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Trump garnered 39 percent of votes, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz received 30 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich received 20 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio received 9 percent, according to NBC News.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton was declared the apparent winner of the Democratic primary, garnering 51 percent of the vote. Sanders received 49 percent.
Presidential candidates made their final Ilinois campaign efforts in the lead-up to Tuesday's primary elections. Democratic presidential frontrunner Clinton visited a Pilsen not-for-profit Monday and promised to make immigration reform a priority.
She also made a brief stop at the Kids Off the Block memorial in Roseland. The memorial is dedicated to children killed by gun violence.
Later Monday, she visited the bakery workers’ union hall at 79th and Kedzie.
Former President Bill Clinton stopped by a South Side Chicago polling place Tuesday morning to speak with voters on Illinois' primary Election Day.
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He also appeared with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Kim Foxx, candidate for Cook County State's Attorney.
The former president made an earlier stop in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, greeting young chidren and voters flanked by Congressman Danny K. Davis and Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Sanders held a packed rally at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater late Monday night, encouraging Illinoisans to "lead the country into a political revolution."
At the rally, Sanders pledged to address Chicago’s street crime problem, if elected president. There have been over 100 shooting deaths in Chicago this year.
Sanders also greeted diners at downtown Chicago restaurant Lou Mitchell’s Tuesday.
The Democratic presidential hopeful sat down for breakfast with Cook County Board commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who lost a surprisingly strong bid last year to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Sanders has been critical of Emanuel in the lead-up to the Illinois primary.
"I don't want the endorsement of a mayor who is shutting down school after school and firing teachers," Sanders said at a rally in suburban Summit Friday.
Trump postponed a Chicago rally Friday, citing safety concerns, after thousands of protesters descended on the event to protest the Republican frontrunner's candidacy. He recently replaced his Illinois campaign director as a result of an alleged lack of organization. Trump held a campaign rally at Bloomington's Synergy Flight Center Sunday.
Cruz attended the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner last Friday. His wife, Heidi Cruz, addressed a City Club of Chicago breakfast last Wednesday.
Kasich appeared at a town hall event at a truck manufacturing company in suburban Lisle last Wednesday. He also held a Town Hall at Palatine's Park District Community Center that same day.
Rubio had no commitments in Illinois, although Conservative Solutions PAC, a super political action committee backing the senator, has spent over a half-million dollars on anti-Trump ads in the state.
Outside of Illinois, Clinton campaigned at a polling place at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School in Raleigh, N.C. Tuesday as voters headed to the polls to cast their ballots in the state’s primary.
North Carolina's Democratic primary has been called for Clinton. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton is beating Sanders by a margin of 55 percent to 41 percent, according to NBC News.
Trump also held a town hall event in Hickory, North Carolina Monday.
He has been declared the projected winner in that state's Republican primary. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Trump has garnered 40 percent of votes, with Ted Cruz receiving 37 percent, John Kasich receiving 13 percent and Marco Rubio receiving 8 percent.
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stumped for Donald Trump at a rally Tuesday in Florida. During her speech, she accused Trump protesters of "thuggery."
Florida's Republican primary has also been called for Trump. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, he has garnered 46 percent of the state's vote, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio receiving 27 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz receiving 17 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich receiving 7 percent.
Rubio suspended his candidacy after losing soundly in his home state.
On the Democratic ticket, Florida has been called for Clinton. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton has garnered 65 percent of votes, with Sanders receiving 33 percent.
Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigned for Kasich in his home state of Ohio earlier this week.
Ohio's Republican primary has been called for Kasich. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, he has garnered 47 percent of the vote, with Trump receiving 36 percent, Ted Cruz receiving 13 percent and Rubio receiving a paltry 3 percent.
Clinton has also been declared the Democratic winner in Ohio. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton received 57 percent of votes, with Sanders receiving 43 percent.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Trump has been named the apparent winner in Missouri's Republican primary, according to NBC News. Nonetheless, he and Cruz remain tied with 41 percent of votes. Kasich has garnered 10 percent, with Rubio receiving 6 percent.
In Missouri's Democratic primary, Clinton has been named the apparent winner with 99 percent of precincts reporting. She beat out Sanders by a margin of 50 percent to 49 percent.
