Tennessee GOP Super Tuesday 2016 Results And Winner: Donald Trump Win

Donald Trump took a resounding victory in the Tennessee GOP primary Tuesday, as he was declared the winner by multiple media outlets as soon as polls closed at 7 p.m. CST.

Check back with Patch tonight for real-time Tennessee GOP primary results as they come in.

• SEE ALSO: Tennessee Democratic Primary 2016 Results And Winner

Trump led Texas Sen. Ted Cruz by 18 points in the latest statewide poll, conducted two weeks ago by NBC and the Wall Street Journal.

Cruz edged Florida Sen. Marco Rubio by 3 points in the poll, followed by neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

State GOP leaders have made a late rally around Rubio, as the junior Senator has fought to become the Republican establishment’s answer to Trump.

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam have all endorsed Rubio in the last week. U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais endorsed Trump on Monday.

“The GOP primary will test the sway of two of the state’s top Republicans. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., have both endorsed Rubio over the past week, and each appeared with him at a campaign rally in Knoxville on Monday morning,” The Tennessean’s Joey Garrison wrote.

“Haslam, a popular second-term governor, framed the race as a battle for the future of the Republican Party, which he suggested is in jeopardy of getting taken over by Trump.”

Following voting in four states, Trump holds a commanding lead in delegate count with 82. Cruz has 17 pledged delegates, Rubio 16, Kasich 6 and Carson 4.

Images via Gage Skidmore, Flickr, used under Creative Commons