Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE defeated Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) in Michigan’s primary, taking the top prize of the six states voting Tuesday.
Multiple news outlets called the race for Biden shortly after 9 p.m. ET.
Michigan’s primary, which will allocate a total of 125 pledged delegates, was seen as a must-win contest for both candidates as Democrats look to win back a state that went to President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in 2016.
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Biden was leading by double digits in the state with 40 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, following projected wins in Mississippi and Missouri.
Sanders won the Michigan primary over Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE in 2016. However, he was unable to expand his coalition in the Great Lakes state in the face of Biden’s broad base of support.
Trump’s campaign manager, Brad ParscaleBradley (Brad) James ParscaleMORE, hit Biden and the Democratic establishment in a statement following Biden’s win in Michigan.
“It is also clear that the Democrat establishment has rallied around the confused Joe Biden in an effort to deny the nomination to Bernie Sanders. Either way, President Trump is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election,” Parscale said.
Biden continued to perform well with black voters, which gave him broad support in the South Carolina and last week’s Super Tuesday primaries.
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NBC News exit polls showed 66 percent of the state’s black voters voted for Biden, along with 66 percent voters over the age of 45.
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Sixty-three percent of Biden voters in Michigan said they identified as “moderate” or “conservative,” while 63 percent of Biden’s voters said they made their decision this month.
Biden also continued to be a favorite for voters who ranked defeating Trump and uniting the country as their top priorities, according to the exit polls.
The former vice president’s win appears to put him on a direct track to the Democratic nomination.
Biden and Sanders are set to compete in the primary states of Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Illinois next week.
The four states, which have 577 delegates at stake, appear to favor Biden.