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Hillary Clinton Wins Arizona; Bernie Sanders Takes Utah, Idaho

Hillary Clinton Wins Arizona; Bernie Sanders Takes Utah, Idaho

Clinton and Sanders

The former secretary of state wins Tuesday's biggest contest, while the Vermont senator tops the Utah and Idaho caucuses.

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Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic primary in Arizona, NBC News and the Associated Press report, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has prevailed in the Utah and Idaho caucuses.

In Arizona, Clinton was declared the winner about 8:30 p.m. Pacific time. The latest vote totals, with 77 percent of precincts reporting, show Clinton has 59 percent of the vote and Sanders with 37 percent. Arizona's 75 delegates to the nominating convention are awarded proportionally. AP shows Clinton with 41 delegates so far and Sanders with 20.

About two hours later, Utah was called for Sanders. With 23 percent of precincts reporting, Sanders leads Clinton 75 percent to 24 percent. Utah's 33 delegates are also awarded on a proportional basis; AP shows Sanders with 18 so far and Clinton with five.

Sanders was declared Idaho's winner about 11:30 p.m. Pacific. With all the votes in, Sanders has 79 percent, Clinton 22 percent, according to AP. He has 17 of the state's 23 delegates, Clinton five.

Sanders won more delegates than Clinton Tuesday but still trails her in both pledged delegates, who are apportioned via primaries and caucuses, and superdelegates, who are elected officials and other party leaders who can support the candidate of their choice regardless of primary results. AP's latest count has Clinton with 1,681 total delegates, Sanders with 925. To win the nomination, a candidate needs 2,383.

Clinton was speaking in Seattle when she learned of her Arizona victory. In her speech, she focused on the likely Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, and denounced his rhetroic in the wake of today's terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium. Trump had endorsed torture for terrorism suspects and once again called for barring Muslims from entering the U.S. Fellow Republican hopeful Ted Cruz called for increased police patrols of Muslim neighborhoods in the U.S.

"What we saw happen today in Brussels reminds us of how high the stakes are," she said, according to The Hill. "We live in a complex and dangerous world and we need a commander in chief that can provide leadership that is strong, smart, and above all, steady, to take on these threats."

"In the face of terror, America doesn't panic," Clinton continued. "We don't build walls or turn our backs on our allies, we can't throw out everything we know about what works and what doesn't and start torturing people. What Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and others are suggesting is not only wrong, it's dangerous. It will not keep us safe -- this is a time for America to lead, not cower."

Sanders, speaking in San Diego, indicated he's in the race to stay, The Hill reports. He touted the fact that his campaign has relied on small donors, showing it's possible to be a viable candidate "without begging billionaires for their money." He also took Clinton to task for making well-paid speeches to Wall Street firms; he has called on her to release transcipts, which she has declined to do.

She has "given speeches on Wall Street for $225,000 a speech," Sanders said. "Now, what I have said is that if you're going to get paid $225,000 a speech, it must be an extraordinarily brilliant speech. It must be a speech that could transform our world. It must be a speech written in Shakespearean prose. So I think, given what a great speech it must have been, let's release that speech to the American people."

Watch both candidates' speeches below.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.