Maryland Presidential Primary 2016: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Win; Final Results

Donald Trump easily won the Republican contest in Tuesday's Maryland primary, says the Associated Press, with Hillary Clinton trouncing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic contest.

The wire service called Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Maryland for Trump, while Clinton has taken Maryland.

On Wednesday, with 99.2 percent of all votes counted, the AP says Clinton had captured 63 percent of the votes to 33 percent for Sanders.

And Trump had 54 percent of the GOP ballots, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 23 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a distant third at 19 percent.

The Maryland Board of Elections shows the same voting percentages. Former Johns Hopkins surgeon Dr. Ben Carson, who dropped out of the GOP contest weeks ago, still landed 1.3 percent of the votes.

"I want to thank the people of Maryland, they've been incredible," Trump said.

He said he considers himself the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz should bow out of the race.

Clinton, joined by her husband, President Bill Clinton, spoke to a cheering hall filled with supporters in Philadelphia.

“There’s nothing wrong in America that can’t be cured with what’s right in America.”

In an apparent swipe at rival Sanders, Clinton told the crowd, "That is how progress is made. We have to be both dreamers and doers."

But she used Sanders' "progressive" catchphrase several times to appeal to all Democrats.

“Whether you support Sen. Sanders or support me, there’s much more that unites us than divides us,” Clinton said.

Democrats agree on: higher wages, college affordable to all, quality health care everyone can afford, keeping troops out of needless conflicts, clean energy, and defending all rights -- civil, voting, women’s, LGBT and disability rights, Clinton said.

And while Sanders only won Rhode Island on Tuesday, he said, "We are in this race until the last vote is cast."

He vowed to campaign at the Democratic national convention for a $15 an hour minimum wage, free college tuition, end to oil fracking, Wall Street reforms and more.

Towson University professor Antonio Campbell said there were no real surprises in the Maryland presidential race. He was "mildly surprised" that Trump is getting over 50 percent in Maryland. Trump took all of the delegates and seemed to have a clean sweep of his delegate slate, as well.

"Trump winning a majority in Maryland is a big deal because Maryland has a closed primary," Campbell told Patch. (There are) "no crossover Democrats to impact results."

Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot, who endorsed Clinton, said Tuesday night that the former Secretary of State will win "in a landslide" this November, reports College News Service.

Trump Takes a Victory Lap

Trump was flanked on stage Tuesday by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, members of the Robertson family who star in “Duck Dynasty,” his children and wife, Melania.

He noted that as he heads to Indiana to campaign on Wednesday, he’ll spend time with former Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight, who has endorsed Trump.

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

He termed his five-state win tonight a diverse victory.

“I think this one is maybe the biggest of them all,” he said of Tuesday’s sweep.

While American jobs have been "sucked away," a Trump administration will impose consequences on those companies so they stay put.

“We’re gonna win on the first” ballot at the GOP national convention in Cleveland, he predicted.

Check back on this page for primary results, expected to begin arriving after 9 p.m.

The lone exception to Maryland's poll-closing time: Baltimore. Problems that caused some Baltimore polling precincts to open an hour late on Tuesday resulted in an emergency court hearing and order to keep a handful of polling sites open.

Polling places that remained open until 9 p.m. are:

• John Eager Howard Elementary School
• Beth-Am Synagogue
• Oliver Multi-purpose Center
• Pimlico Elementary School

Baltimore lawyer Billy Murphy filed a petition in Baltimore City Circuit Court to keep polls open until 10 p.m.—rather than 8 p.m.—alleging that several opened an hour late, according to The Baltimore Sun, which reported he made the motion on behalf of U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.

A judge ruled at 7:30 p.m. that the four sites listed above will stay open until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

New York billionaire businessman Trump and former Secretary of State Clinton easily won last week’s New York presidential primaries. Trump snagged 60 percent of the votes, followed by dogged Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 25 percent and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 15 percent.

Towson University professor Antonio Campbell says don’t expect any surprises Tuesday night when Maryland votes are tallied.

SEE ALSO:

• 2016 Primaries: Donald Trump Wins Five of Five States Tuesday
• Baltimore Primary 2016: Voting Issues, Tire Slashing
• Maryland Senate Primary 2016: Edwards, Van Hollen Vie for Seat
• MD Republican Primary Results: Polls Open at 7 a.m. Tuesday
• MD Democratic Primary Results: Polls Open at 7 a.m. Tuesday

Democratic Response to Trump Wins

As Trump swept all five races Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee blasted the tone of the GOP race and frontrunner.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement that said, in part, "Ranting and raving his way to five primary victories tonight, Donald Trump has secured his chokehold on the Republican nomination. For years, GOP leaders have pushed a cynical and feckless political strategy that exploits unfounded fears of immigrants, minorities, the poor, the LGBT community and more, all for political gain.

"They have sold hardworking Americans the empty promise of trickle-down prosperity, while strangling America’s middle class with backwards economic policies that only enrich those already at the top. Donald Trump’s impending nomination is the ultimate, sad culmination of the success of that strategy. Trump is the modern Republican Party."

What Maryland Voters Said Tuesday

Howard County resident Daniel Wise said he voted with his head rather than his heart.

“I’m torn,” Wise, a Democrat, told Patch. “I like the idea of Bernie Sanders.”

Sanders’ views on working wage and income inequality were draws, he said.

But as he got ready to put on his helmet and bike to head home from the Ellicott City Senior Center after casting his vote, Wise said: “I didn’t vote with my heart. I voted with logic.”

He said he cast his ballot for Clinton because that was the logical thing to do, stating: “[Sanders] added a lot to the race this year. Maybe the fact that he has a lot of supporters says something.”

Terri Cunningham of Ellicott City said that she hasn’t voted most of her adult life, but this year was different. “I’m here to vote for Trump,” Cunningham told Patch with assuredness. “I want a change—I want a big change.”

Trump’s lack of government experience was a draw for the Ellicott City resident. She also said she wanted the borders closed and jobs to be added to the economy rather than outsourced.

“I like that he’s not a career politician,” Cunningham said of Trump. “He’s not owned by corporations. I like that he’s funding his own campaign.”

Campaign workers in Baltimore said that the pace of voting during the day was slow compared with early voting, when there were constant lines at polling places.

“Civic duty.” That’s why Evelyn Christian said she voted on Tuesday during the Maryland primary. She wouldn’t say who she voted for but said that “they either do right or they lie.”

Her husband said he had no comment other than: “Most women are right.”

Voters Focused on Jobs, Economy

While the two political parties are seemingly miles apart on how to do it, Maryland voters said Tuesday that they are most concerned with creating jobs and growing the country's economy.

CBS News exit polls show that Republican voters want a candidate who shares their values and who can bring about change. About half of Republicans in the state are dissatisfied with the federal government.

Sixty-one percent of Democrats in Maryland want the next president to continue the policies of Barack Obama, and roughly a third of voters are looking for a candidate with experience. Another third of Democrats want a candidate who cares about people, the exit polls show.

Maryland Tight Senate Race

Many Maryland voters were focused on the primaries to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

Two names saturated the TV airwaves leading up to Tuesday's Maryland Democratic primary for Senate: Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen.

The state election site gave Van Hollen the clear win, 53 percent to 39 percent for Edwards, the closest challenger in the crowded field.

While 10 people are running for Maryland's open Senate post, Edwards and Van Hollen have been polling highest among those vying for the seat.

Real Clear Politics, which took into account three polls including Monmouth between April 5 and 20, found that Van Hollen showed a 46 percent lead over Edwards, who was polling at 35.7 percent.

Ted Cruz Bashes Both Trump, Clinton

Ted Cruz, speaking at a rally in Indiana, urged voters to stop what the media has preordained as a Trump nomination.

"Tonight, this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain," the Texan said, as he focuses on upcoming votes May 3 in Indiana, May 10 in Nebrask and June 7 in Montana and New Mexico.

Cruz told the audience he has a major announcement on vice presidential vetting. Hillary Clinton has picked Donald Trump as her vice presidential nominee, he joked.

When Trump was recently asked to name the top functions of federal government, he said security, health care, education and housing.

Clinton would agree with those priorities, Cruz said, to boos from the crowd.

“Donald and Hillary are flip sides of the same coin,” Cruz said.

Sanders Still In Race

Sanders, speaking to supporters in Huntington, West Virginia, sounded a familiar argument that he is the best person for the Democratic Party to run against Donald Trump.

"What we are seeing are national polls that show us 15-20 points ahead of Donald Trump, far more than Secretary Clinton," he said.

Baltimore Voting Problems

Voters turning out to the polls Tuesday in Baltimore found some venues unprepared for primary day. There were no pens, no "I Voted" stickers and no people to open up the polling places, several citizens reported.

The city's election director failed to include the “I Voted” stickers in the election gear sent to the city’s 296 precincts. Some workers have been dispatched to deliver the stickers, and workers are welcome to pick them up at election headquarters, Armstead B.C. Jones Sr., election director, told The Baltimore Sun.

And mayoral Democratic frontrunner Sen. Catherine Pugh had promised paying jobs at her campaign office on Ellamont Avenue, but workers turned violent when told this morning that the positions were unavailable.

The frustrated job-seekers took it out on windows on Pugh's campaign vehicles, which were smashed and tires were slashed, according to WJZ, which reported Pugh has since said the miscommunication was resolved and she has provided jobs for all who sought them.

Support Increases Nationally for Trump

Trump received some good news even before polls closed Tuesday. A new national poll conducted online April 18-24 shows that for the first time he has reached 50 percent support from Republicans and Republican-leaners. The NBC News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Tracking Poll also shows Trump has gained 6 percent support among independent voters nationally.

He reminded Maryland voters to head to the polls Tuesday morning and thanked them for supporting his campaign.

For years, Maryland has morphed from a solidly Democratic state to one with only a few Democratic majority counties, he says. The changing electorate likes what Trump has to say, and his deviation from the political playbook.

Trump hasn’t spoken about economy enough for that to be the galvanizing issue with voters. So what does Campbell credit with the businessman’s popularity in Maryland?

“It it’s anything, it’s the anti-politician vibe. I think it’s an American inferiority complex,” Campbell told Patch. “When Trump talks about America not winning any more, people understand that.”

According to Real Clear Politics, polls of Maryland Republicans done in recent weeks show Trump holding on to his sizable lead with 41 percent support, followed by 27 percent for Kasich and 23 percent for Cruz.

The hard feelings among the GOP candidates stepped up a notch when the Kasich and Cruz camps said they are coordinating efforts in the remaining primary states so that one of them is the clear leader, all as part of a game plan to stop Trump from reaching the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination.

On Sunday night that meant Kasich saying he won't spend resources in Indiana and Cruz clearing a path for the Ohio governor in Oregon and New Mexico.

“To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico, and we would hope that allies of both campaigns would follow our lead,” Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said in a statement to Politico.

Trump took to Twitter to bash both of his challengers, accusing them of collusion and desperation.

Clinton easily fended off Sen. Bernie Sanders last week, capturing 58 percent of the vote to 42 percent for the Vermont independent. And, in a state filled with government workers, contractors and lobbyists, Clinton seems a lock to win Maryland.

She thanked voters Tuesday morning and reminded Maryland residents to make it to the polls today.

There are 95 pledged delegates up for grabs in Maryland, and the state party here awards delegates proportionally. While the Republicans have 38 on the line and Maryland is a winner take all state.

• Check back with Patch as soon as polls close for live Maryland Republican and Democratic primary results.

Maryland Likely to Give Clinton Another Win

Kathleen Matthews, a former TV reporter in a nine-person Democratic race for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District seat, told Patch that “This is an incredibly contested Democratic primary in Maryland. I think Hillary Clinton is going to do very well.”

Sanders will "reassess" his campaign following Tuesday's results, The New York Times reports. Campaign advisor Tad Devine says the senator will look at where he stands following the primaries in five states, but aides say Sanders will remain in the contest through the convention.

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.

Clinton supporter and professor Dr. Darlene Antezana tells Patch that she’s suspicious of a senator -- Sanders -- who has been an independent for years and is now a Democrat.

Antezana -- the chair of the History, Political Science, Geography and Anthropology Department at Prince George’s Community College -- expects Clinton to win the predominantly Democratic state.

“I would vote for Hillary Clinton and not for Bernie Sanders. He’s doing an Alice in Wonderland fantasy of ‘I’ll do this, this and this, with no idea of how he’ll do it’,” Antezana says.

She faulted Sanders for not offering specifics on how to pay for his health care system and other platform tenets. But added that all the candidates have done a good job of steering clear of detailing how they’ll govern.

According to Real Clear Politics, polls of Maryland Democrats done in the past month show Clinton holding on to her sizable lead: 57 percent to 35 percent.

Two counties adjacent to Washington, D.C. – Prince George’s and Montgomery – should be Clinton strongholds, Antezana says.

Prince George’s County has a majority African-American demography and Sanders has yet to do well with that segment of voters. Montgomery County -- home to some of the state’s most affluent suburbs in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac – has had an increase in its Hispanic population, but it’s questionable whether they will back Sanders.

Antezana says the independent senator’s likely successes will be in more rural counties, maybe Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where the Republican Party has gained voters. In fact, Trump held a rally Wednesday at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin – a small town on the road to Ocean City – that drew thousands more than the school could accommodate.

Towson University's Campbell says Clinton will not snag much of the young electorate.

His students aren’t interested in supporting Clinton, whom they view as more of the same, a politician who isn't trustworthy, Campbell said.

While older voters don’t think young people pay attention to politics, they do, he said, just in different ways. Young adult voters use Facebook, Twitter and other social media to t get their information more unfiltered than older voters do.

“They have a wide breadth of information, but not necessarily detailed knowledge,” Campbell said of younger voters.

Campaigns Continue to Battle

While the odds may be stacked against the lesser-known candidates, none of them seem prepared to bow out before all primary voters have had their say. While Trump has repeatedly called for both Cruz and Kasich to drop out, Kasich maintains that he is the only GOP candidate who can defeat Clinton in the November election.

To emphasize that, Kasich campaigned in Rockville on Monday. He has consistently polled in second place among Maryland Republicans planning to vote Tuesday.

A Real Clear Politics average of the most recent Maryland polls gives Trump the lead among GOP voters, with 41 percent support. Kasich follows with 26.3 percent, while Cruz comes in third place at 24.5 percent.

Kasich has won only his home state, to date, but his supporters in recent days have talked about the likelihood that he could win the nomination at the Republican national convention as a divided GOP gathers in July with no clear favorite.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, has not endorsed any of the remaining contenders since Christie ended his race. But Hogan, a Republican whose approval ratings are soaring, has said he does not think Trump should be the party’s nominee.

Hogan has made it clear in interviews that he’s not a fan of Trump, he told The Associated Press in March. “I don’t think he should be the nominee. At this point in time, I have no idea who the candidates are going to be or who I’m going to vote for,” he said.

Here's reaction from Twitter on Tuesday night:

»Photo of Donald Trump campaign signs in a yard in Southwest Baltimore City, by Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney; photos of candidates by Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Creative Commons