GOP frontrunner Donald Trump easily won the New York State primary Tuesday with more than 60 percent of the statewide vote — and an even greater number here in Western New York. Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton took the state, as well as Western New York’s two most populous counties — Erie and Monroe — but lost to Sanders in the more rural areas.
For Trump, his victory was overwhelming, taking approximately 90 of the potential 95 delegates across New York, including the three from the 27th Congressional District, where he was endorsed by Congressman Chris Collins.
Trump will need to continue to sweep upcoming states in order to possibly exceed the 1,237 he needs to secure the Republican nomination on the first ballot at the GOP convention in Cleveland, Ohio in July. With New York’s expected tally, he is 391 shy. There are 620 delegates left to be awarded.
Clinton would appear to have the Democratic nomination locked with tonight’s statewide victory. Including superdelegates, she has 1,893 delegates secured of the 2,383 needed. Each party is responsible for how they select candidates and each has its own delegate formula. Sanders, with 1,180 total pledged delegates, would need 1,203 to win the nomination outright. There are only 1,380 left to be awarded.
Although Sanders lost statewide by a 58/42 margin, he won in 51 of New York’s 62 counties. In fact, Sanders took all of Western New York’s more rural counties — that is to say, except Erie and Monroe counties. He also took all of Upstate New York with the exception of Onondaga County.
If Clinton and Trump are their party’s respective nominees, it would be the first time since 1944 when both major party presidential candidates were from the same state. That election featured Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas Dewey — both of New York.
The next contest is April 26, when Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are up to vote.
The total statewide votes for each candidate follows:
Republicans
Donald Trump — 518,601
John Kasich —— 214,887
Ted Cruz ———- 124,000
Democrats
Bernie Sanders — 1,037,344
Hillary Clinton — 752,739
