Donald Trump won the North Carolina GOP presidential primary, continuing a streak of wins in the Southern states that were supposed to be where Ted Cruz is strongest.
Trump held a consistent lead in polling conducted throughout the 2016 calendar year and likely benefitted from Tar Heel State voters’ mistrust of institutions, particularly government.
Unlike other states voting on Tuesday, however, North Carolina awards delegates on a proportional basis. While the official vote count remains unknown, Cruz, the Texas senator, would benefit from a strong showing that helps him earn enough delegates to help blunt Trump’s momentum.
Trump’s victory appears to sting Cruz most, as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich focused much of their efforts on their home states fighting for survival. Cruz, on the other hand, has hoped that North Carolina would cement his status as Trump’s top adversary.
While results from Florida and Ohio earn lots of attention, North Carolina could play a crucial role in determining whether the Republican Party faces a contested convention this summer.
