Washington – March 9, 2016 – Bernie Sanders won the Michigan Democratic primary.
Sanders’ victory, on the eve of the next Democratic debate clash raises fresh questions about the former secretary of state’s appeal to blue-collar Democrats who have embraced the Vermont’s senator’s populist anti-Wall Street message.
Although Sanders did little to cut into Clinton’s overall lead of about 200 delegates, thanks to her win Tuesday in Mississippi, his performance in Michigan suggests Sanders could mount a stronger-than-expected challenge in looming primaries in a string of Rust Belt states, including Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin, CNN projected.

Michigan Primary Results

Democratic Primary

On the Republican side, Donald Trump won the Hawaii caucuses, CNN projected. He also won Republican primaries in Michigan and Mississippi, important victories that propel him closer to the nomination despite a week of fearsome barrage of attacks from his rivals and the Republican establishment.
Sen. Ted Cruz won the Idaho Republican primary, according to a CNN projection.
But the big surprise of the night was in the Democratic race.
Even the Sanders camp appeared to be surprised by the victory, as the candidate held a rally for supporters in Florida hours before his victory was confirmed.
Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri said their strategy “is built around accruing delegates and we will come out on top on delegates.”
Even though she lost Michigan to Sanders, Clinton actually won more delegates on the night, according to a CNN estimate, picking up 84 to Sanders’ 67. She now has 1,234 of the 2,383 delegates needed to win the nomination. That figure includes super delegates, party officials and officeholders who have said they will back her.
Sanders has 567 delegates overall.