Donald Trump finally prevailed in a caucus Saturday, winning Kentucky.
Trump’s win came after he won 11 of the first 15 states that distributed delegates, including seven of the 11 states that voted on Super Tuesday. But he faced a strong challenge from Ted Cruz, who beat him Saturday in both Kansas and Maine while running close behind in Kentucky and Louisiana.
All candidates who win at least 5 percent of the vote in Kentucky will get some delegates.
Trump held a rally in Louisville on Super Tuesday itself. Rubio had initially planned a campaign event for Friday, before cancelling in favor of a separate event in Kansas.
Leading up to the caucus, the state had been scarcely polled. The only poll, which was taken by between Feb. 22-26 by Western Kentucky University, had Trump winning with 35 percent support while beating Rubio (22 percent) and Cruz (15 percent).
None of the state’s three top Republicans — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul and Gov. Matt Bevin — endorsed any of the remaining candidates prior to the caucuses. McConnell had previously endorsed Paul before he dropped his bid after the Iowa caucuses to focus on his senate reelection campaign.
Normally, Kentucky holds a primary contest in May. However, Paul pressed for a change to the caucus system so he could run simultaneously for president and re-election to the Senate under Kentucky law. Paul dropped out of the presidential race after the Iowa caucus.
