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Sanders Beats Clinton By Large Margins in Utah, Idaho

Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton / AP
March 23, 2016

While Hillary Clinton emerged the victor in the Arizona Democratic primary Tuesday, her competitor Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) beat her by large margins in two states.

Sanders’ wins will likely provide his campaign with momentum following Clinton’s sweep of the five states that voted one week prior.

Clinton was projected the winner in Arizona shortly after early results were released. As of Wednesday morning, Clinton was capturing 58 percent of the vote with nearly all precincts reporting. Still, Sanders received 40 percent of the vote, allowing him to capture some delegates in the state. Polls leading up to the primary contest indicated correctly that Clinton would decisively win the state.

Clinton maintains a significant edge over Sanders in the delegate count and is widely believed to be the likely Democratic nominee though Sanders’ campaign has presented an unexpected challenge to the former secretary of state.

Sanders, who has built immense support particularly among young Democratic voters, received a boost in Tuesday’s Democratic caucuses in Utah and Idaho, both of which were called in favor of the Vermont senator early Wednesday morning.

Sanders emerged the clear winner in Utah, receiving 80 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 20 percent with 82 percent of precincts reporting Wednesday morning. Polling out of Utah—which was sparse—indicated that the race would be much tighter. Surveys conducted in January and February showed Clinton with a slight lead over her competitor in the state.

Sanders recorded a similar victory in the Idaho caucus, winning 78 percent of the vote in the caucus and far outperforming Clinton, who received 21 percent.