Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Win Connecticut Primary

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: Hillary Clinton Declared Winner, Bernie Sanders Vows to Remain in the Race

When polls closed at 8 p.m. in Connecticut, Hillary Clinton took the initial lead but Bernie Sanders soon surged into a slight lead that he continued to control for the next two hours.

But by 10:15 p.m., the race had almost become a dead heat with Sanders still enjoying a razor-thin lead of around 250 votes. At about 10 p.m., the Huffington Post erroneously posted a headline saying Sanders had won Connecticut but that was quickly deleted.

And at 10:30 p.m., Fox News called the Democratic primary in Connecticut for Clinton as she surged back into the lead. The AP then called the race for Clinton, too.

As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday Clinton had 137,921 votes to Sanders 127,894 with 87.5 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Secretary of the State office.

After Pennsylvania was called for Clinton around 9 p.m. she gave a victory speech there and she urged the party to unify in order to win the national election.

“We will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together,” she said.

She said, “Whether you support Sen. Sanders or support me there is much more that unites us than divides us."

Sanders on Tuesday issued the following statement after the Connecticut race was called. He vowed to stay in the race until the end.

“I congratulate Secretary Clinton on her victories tonight, and I look forward to issue-oriented campaigns in the 14 contests to come.

“I am proud that we were able to win a resounding victory tonight in Rhode Island, the one state with an open primary where independents had a say in the outcome. Democrats should recognize that the ticket with the best chance of winning this November must attract support from independents as well as Democrats. I am proud of my campaign’s record in that regard," Sanders said in a statement.

“The people in every state in this country should have the right to determine who they want as president and what the agenda of the Democratic Party should be. That’s why we are in this race until the last vote is cast. That is why this campaign is going to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform that calls for a $15 an hour minimum wage, an end to our disastrous trade policies, a Medicare-for-all health care system, breaking up Wall Street financial institutions, ending fracking in our country, making public colleges and universities tuition free and passing a carbon tax so we can effectively address the planetary crisis of climate change," Sanders statement concludes.

UPDATE 10 p.m.: Trump Delivers Victory Speech

Speaking from Trump Tower in Manhattan, Donald Trump thanked the crowd, calling his win in the Northeast diverse, "far bigger than we expected," and declared himself the GOP's "presumptive nominee."

Referring to his victory in New York last week, Trump said when you crack 60 percent with three people in the race, "that's hard."

Trump took 105,527 votes in Connecticut compared to Kasich's 49,470 and Cruz's 21,166 with 84 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Secretary of the State office at 11:30 p.m. Trump walked away with about 59 percent of the vote at that time.

He called the plan by John Kasich and Ted Cruz to team up in an effort to stop him as a sign of weakness.

Trump will be in Indiana this weekend where he will hold a rally and be joined by legendary Indiana University coach Bobby Knight. He called Knight and great guy, "the gold standard for Indiana," and thanked him for his endorsement.

Trump even thanked the media for its fair coverage, an institution that usually bears the brunt of his ire.

He once again extended his support for Bernie Sanders, saying he's been treated badly by the Democratic party and should run as an independent.

“We will beat Hillary so easily,” Trump said.

UPDATE 9:50 p.m.:

All eyes are on Connecticut as the Democratic primary race remains too close to call. With nearly 50 percent of votes counted, Bernie Sanders has a slight lead over Hillary Clinton.

Clinton has been declared the winner in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware with Sanders taking the win in Rhode Island.

Speaking in Philadelphia, Clinton urged the party to unify in order to win the national election.

“We will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together,” she said.

Trump swept all five states holding primaries Tuesday.

UPDATE: 8:05 p.m.: Trump Wins Republican Race

Donald Trump has been projected the winner in the 2016 Connecticut Republican Primary, according to the AP.

Polls have closed in Connecticut, however, those in line by 8 p.m. will still be allowed to cast their vote. Trump was leading comfortably in the polls over his opponents John Kasich and Ted Cruz. According to the AP, with 18 percent reporting, Trump has 59 percent of the vote, Kasich is coming in second with 25 percent of the vote and Cruz trails behind with 12 percent of the vote.

Kasich was expected to finish second and Cruz third. Cruz never campaigned in Connecticut while Trump and Kasich held multiple events in the state. Cruz did open a campaign office in Ellington this weekend.

The billionaire was also declared the winner in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In Maryland, Hillary Clinton has been declared the winner in the Democratic race.

Trump is expected to speak at 9 p.m. from the Trump Tower.

Polls showed Clinton with a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in Connecticut. The race remains too close to call but early results show Sanders with a slight lead.

After shifting campaign strategy to appear more "presidential," Trump has reportedly reverted back to the "Let Trump be Trump" mantra.

Meanwhile, Kasich and Cruz have teamed up in a "Stop-Trump" effort to keep the frontrunner from winning the nomination.

Trump has called the move, "desperation."

• Patch will update this post with results as soon as they are pulled. Follow along below for our live updates:

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.: Update on Voter Turnout

Statewide average voter turnout as of late Tuesday afternoon in Connecticut was 26.47 percent, according to Secretary of State Denise Merrill.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: Voter Turnout so Far

Secretary of State Denise Merrill reported that the statewide average voter turnout at midday was 15.8 percent. Merrill said in a release her office had received anecdotal reports of high activity but not in every part of the state.

UPDATE 4:40 p.m.: Sanders will "Reassess Campaign"

Bernie Sanders will "reassess" his campaign following Tuesday's results, the New York Times reports. Campaign advisor Tad Devine tells the publication the senator will look at where he stands following the primaries in five states. However, Devine told the paper Sanders will remain in the contest through the primary season.

Jane Sanders, the candidate's wife, expressed confusion in an interview with Chris Hayes and denied any suggestion the senator would be exiting the race early.

UPDATE 3:50 p.m.: Narrow Edge for Clinton

A PPP poll released Monday showed Hillary Clinton with a narrow lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. According to the poll, "Clinton has a narrow edge at 48/46, thanks in large part to a 63/24 advantage among African Americans."

The same polls shows Sanders leading over Clinton in Rhode Island. In Pennsylvania Clinton has a larger lead over her opponent.

See the full poll here.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: Cruzing Along?

At Ted Cruz's campaign headquarters in Ellington, Joel Leyden, the director of the Texas senator’s Connecticut efforts to earn the Republican nomination, said hopes were high.

“Americans tend to do the right thing and I think they will,” he said, pointing to the GOP nominating convention.

Leyden said he worked on the Trump campaign for about four months as late as last spring, but left and joined forces with Cruz.

“Donald Trump is a master at marketing and everything he does is choreographed by himself,” Leyden said. “And he is convincing a lot of people.”

He continued, “But,” he paused. “He is not fit to be president.”

Leyden said Connecticut is hard to predict, and described it as “a schizophrenic” state that is highly Democratic but socially “not that warm.”

Everyone west of Rein’s Deli likes the Yankees. Everyone East of Rein’s Deli likes the Red Sox,” he said, using the famed Vernon restaurant as a landmark instead of the Connecticut River. "Then, there is Fairfield County.”

He said if Cruz can make a good showing, he would be primed “to secure delegates at the convention.”

“Especially the unbound delegates and every delegate if it goes to a second ballot,” he said. “Trump would not be a good fit. Ted could get along with Congress.”

Unbound was the word in Tolland.

Republican Registrar Leonard Bach said folks were lines out the door to register for a part Monday five minutes before the state deadline in order to vote in today’s primary.

“I have never seen anything like this,” he said in terms of voting interest.

Some Photos from Primary Day:

UPDATE 1:40 p.m.: "Hot Chicks for Donald Trump"

"It has been fantastic, busy as all get-out and Trumpeteers are Trumping away," said Linda Louise LaCasse, owner of A Victorian Sentiment in Somersville who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Somers Republican First Selectman Lisa Pellegrini last November.

She was wearing her trademark hat adorned with a pink button stating, "Hot Chicks For Donald Trump."

In Enfied, heavy rain may not have kept voters from the polls, but it certainly affected the number of volunteers who normally stand outside the town's four polling places in support of their candidates.

A late-morning drive-through of the sites yielded not one person standing near the 75 feet clearance signs at John F. Kennedy Middle School, Enfield Street School, Fermi High School or Henry Barnard School.

The line of the morning was delivered by a flatbed truck operator from the Interstate Towing Co., who was in the process of hooking up a car bearing a blue "Bernie 2016" bumper sticker in the parking lot at the Henry Barnard School in Enfield.

When queried, the wrecker driver said, "We're not towing it because of the Bernie sticker - we're towing it because it's a Ford."

Both Republican and Democratic volunteers at the East Windsor Town Hall Annex reported "a steady flow of voters" throughout the morning.

In Danbury, Mayor Mark Boughton reported that 790 Republicans and 950 Democrats had voted as of 10 a.m.

SEE ALSO:

• Connecticut Republican Primary 2016: Donald Trump Looks For Decisive Results
• Connecticut Democratic Primary 2016: Poll Results Show Lead For Hillary Clinton
• 2016 Primaries: Tuesday Elections Favor the Frontrunners

UPDATE 12:40 p.m.: Reporting Problems at the Polls

Voters experiencing problems at the polls are encouraged to report them through a special hotline set up by Secretary of State Denise Merrill. Voters can call 866-SEEC-INFO or email elections@ct.gov. Both the hotline and the email address will be monitored between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. by the State Election Enforcement Commission and the Secretary of the State’s office.

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.: Historic Republican Turnout in Fairfield

Dreary weather hardly kept voters away from the polls in Fairfield.

A steady stream of people poured into the voting location at Stratfield Elementary School before noon.

Things are shaping up to be a historic primary at the polling location. Moderator Bruce Carter said he had never seen such a high turnout for a Republican primary in his 34 years in the role.

Around 11:30 a.m. about 19 percent of registered Republicans at the voting location had already voted, Carter said. In a typical primary that is the turnout for an entire day. The polling location still had more than eight hours to go.

“This is very unusual for a primary,” he said. “I’m dying to see the totals.”

A typical primary at the location can go an hour or more without seeing a voter, Carter said. That wasn’t the case Tuesday as both Republicans and Democrats filled the school’s parking lot to cast their votes.

The number of new voters who signed up before the primary was also atypical, according to Carter. Many people came in with paperwork that proved they had recently registered to vote or joined a political party.

UPDATE 11: 40 a.m.: 'Feel the Bern' Soda

Hosmer Mountain Beverages, based in Columbia, Conn. has named one of their signature soda recipes, "Feel the Bern." Brothers Andrew and Bill Potvin disagree over whether politics and business should mix, WTNH reported.

And at least one customer has said, "I’ll never drink another drop of your soda again."

Politics aside, the soda is a repackaged version of an old fashioned ginger ale.

UPDATE 11: 30 a.m: Voting Picking Up

In Westport at Coleytown Middle School the voter turnout has been steady since voting began, polling site Moderator Margie Avellino told Patch. By 9:30 a.m. more than 250 people had voted, two-thirds of which were Democrats, said Avellino.

One of those Westport Democrats, Martin Krauthamer, made it very clear why he voted for Hillary Clinton. “The other choice is ridiculous,” he said, speaking about Bernie Sanders. “He espouses wonderful things that can’t be achieved, but no one wants to call him on it.”

Krauthamer said he believes that Clinton has “tremendous experience and great knowledge” of the issues, which he said easily qualifies her for the presidency.

Liz Reisman, another Westport Democrat, agreed with Krauthamer about Clinton, who received her vote. “I think she ultimately has the ability to negotiate, and it’s the number one skill I believe is needed at this time. That’s how you survive, and I believe she can do it with confidence.”

Andy Frankel, a Westport Republican, took a different tact, deciding to vote for Ted Cruz.

“I voted out of principal,” said Frankel. “I knew Sen. Cruz has no chance in Connecticut, but he aligns most closely with my positions of limited government and getting back to basics as it relates to the Constitution.”

Fellow Westport Republican Joan Tricarico said Tuesday marked the first time she’s voted in the primary. Improving the nation’s finances and immigration policies are two of the issues that brought her to the polls.

“We’re at a very serious point in this country,” she told Patch, adding that she voted to send a message, but was not particularly impressed with any of the choices on the Republican side, nor the Democratic side for that matter. “We have not been heading in a good direction, and we can’t just keep spending.”

UPDATE 9:15 a.m.: Voting Underway

There is significant enthusiasm on primary day in Connecticut as nearly 100,000 people have registered to vote since Jan. 1.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy cast his vote at 7:30 a.m. in Hartford. He was joined by First Lady Cathy Malloy. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill was also at the polling location.

Sen. Chris Murphy voted via absentee ballot.

At 6:30 a.m. in Vernon - a half-hour before the polls opened - Republican Registrar of Voters John Anderson was taking in the quiet at Vernon Center Middle School, one of four polling places in town.

That’s because he didn’t expect it to last.

“We weren’t sure about the weather, but it looks like it might be OK. I know one thing, we are on the map this year. We are expecting a few more people this year. Two years ago, we had a primary and something like 600 people came out all day. It was like Death Valley at the polling places. I don’t think that will be the case today.

George Keenan, a popular former crossing guard who had greeting duty at another polling place Vernon’s Rockville High School, said just a smattering of Democrats showed up in the first 30 minutes.

He expected that to change.

“Especially with all the hullabaloo,” he said.

Almost on cue, a Republican showed up to vote. Jerry Snyder of Vernon said he is a Trump guy.

“I’m voting, going to breakfast and then going to work,” the 74-year-old Snyder said.

When asked if he were looking for something different, Snyder jumped at the answer.

“Oh, I’m looking for something a lot different,” he said. “These others, they are career politicians. Mr. Trump is not. I like how he has financed his own campaign. He need to check his brain before using his tongue, but we need someone to bring strength back to our military and bring respect back to this country in the world.”

Patch's Original Report:

Fresh off the heels of a closely watched and somewhat problematic race in New York, it's now Connecticut's turn to have its voice heard in the 2016 presidential nominating contest.

Residents of the nutmeg state head to the polls Tuesday, April 26 to cast their vote in the state's presidential primary and experts predict the results to look much like what they did in neighboring New York.

Polls show both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton leading in the state heading into Tuesday's contest. A Qunnipiac University poll released April 20 shows Trump with 48 percent of the vote among likely Republican primary voters while Ohio Gov. John Kasich holds 28 percent of the vote and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz comes in with 19 percent of the vote.

Among Republicans, 5 percent are undecided and 25 percent of those who name a candidate say the may change their mind before the primary.

Clinton's lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is not nearly as sizable, according to the poll. Still, she leads 51-42 over the self-described Democratic socialist among likely Democratic primary voters.

According to the poll, 6 percent of voters remain undecided and 18 percent of those who name a candidate say they might change their mind.

Gary L. Rose, Ph.D., Professor and Chair in the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, told Patch Trump could potentially do well in Connecticut while Kasich would gain support among some of the state's more moderate Republicans and Cruz would likely come in at a distant third.

Since his win in New York, the media and the public have been introduced to the image of a more "presidential Trump," even referring to Cruz as senator rather than his much preferred "lyin' Ted Cruz," during his victory speech after sweeping the New York primary.

The shift is to do with Trump letting his recent hire Paul Manafort take the lead with the campaign going forward. As the Wall Street Journal explains, "the new direction is a shift from campaign manager Corey Lewandowski’s mantra “Let Trump be Trump.”"

Manafort, a Connecticut native, is a veteran political consultant who was officially hired as a "convention manager." He has served as an advisor to Republicans Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

More election coverage on Patch:

• Hillary Clinton Calls for 'National Movement' Against Gun Lobby in CT Visit
• Trump's Presence in Hartford Draws Lovers and Haters To The Sidewalk - And Even Some Out Of The Closet
• Donald Trump Connecticut Rally: Trump Fires Up Supporters
• Trump, Clinton Expected to Win Connecticut Primaries: Quinnipiac Poll
• Presidential Candidate John Kasich Says CT has to 'Stop Punishing Businesses'
• Connecticut Primary Voter Guide: What You Need to Know
• Bernie Sanders Fires Up Connecticut Crowd

On the Democratic side, while Clinton does hold a lead, SHU professor Gary Rose told Patch that while he thinks that Clinton will win in Connecticut, it will be substantially closer than in New York and there could be a small chance of an upset for Sanders.

"At Sacred Heart, there’s very active support for Bernie, and that seems to be true at most of the colleges in the state. I’m not sure if that will be enough to overtake Clinton’s establishment support, because she has the backing of the state’s entire congressional delegation, Gov. Malloy and others," Rose said. "But there’s a small chance there could be an upset.”

Like in most states, Clinton has the backing of Connecticut's Democratic elites with endorsements from Gov. Dannel Malloy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Sanders' support among the younger generation might work more to his advantage in Connecticut than it did in New York, where unaffiliated voters, that are some of Sanders' biggest supporters, complained about being unable to participate in the state's closed primary due to the strict deadline for switching parties being Oct. 9.

In Connecticut, the rules are more flexible with new and unaffiliated voters being able to enroll for the closed primary by noon on Monday, April 25 in person at the town registrar's office. The deadline to register online has already passed as has the deadline to switch party affiliation.

As of Jan. 1, at least 76,600 people have registered to vote in Connecticut, the Courant reported. Among the new voters, 36,607 have registered as Democrats, 16,896 as Republicans and 23,182 as unaffiliated.

Candidates in both races have made stops in the state. Trump held one of his iconic rallies in Hartford while Kasich held a town hall event at Sacred Heart University earlier this month. Clinton made a stop in Hartford on Thursday to discuss gun violence and Bernie Sanders held a rally on the New Haven green the weekend before the primary.

At stake are 70 delegates for the Democrats and 28 delegates for the Republicans.

In the Qunnipiac University poll referenced above, 823 Connecticut likely Republican primary voters were surveyed with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points and 1,037 likely Democratic primary voters were surveyed with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

Additional reporting by Brian McCready, Rich Scinto, Alfred Branch, Vincent Salzo, Tim Jensen, Wendy Mitchell, Kara Seymour and Chris Dehnel

Editor's Note: We'll be updating this post with live updates throughout the day. Check back here for the latest updates on Connecticut's primary.

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Creative Commons

Images at the polls taken by Alfred Branch and Tim Jensen