Trump wins Washington, a step away from nomination

Olympia, May 25

Donald Trump today easily won the Washington state primary and was tantalisingly close to clinching the Republican presidential nomination to set up a likely clash with Democratic party front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Trump's victory, however, was overshadowed by the clashes between anti-Trump protesters and police outside his event in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Washington also held a Democratic primary which was won by Clinton but its result is meaningless as Democrats decided to allocate their delegates in the March 26 caucuses, where Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won all 39 counties.

Trump's win in Washington state where Trump received 76.2% of the total votes polled has brought him close to clinching the nomination.

Republicans in Washington were to allocate 44 delegates to the national convention in Cleveland based on the primary results. Trump had secured at least 27 delegates, leaving him 41 short of the number needed to clinch the nomination.

In the primary, Trump garnered over 76% of the vote as Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich each earned 10% of the vote, while retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson earned 4 per cent of the vote.

Washington did not have enough delegates to put him over the line. However, its results do, however, leave him inches short of it with a slate of key contests on June 7 in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, Montana and South Dakota sure to seal the deal.

“Thank You Washington,” Trump tweeted after major news channels projected his win in the state. — PTI