Mississippians have thrown their support behind former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire Donald Trump as candidates for their parties nomination to be the next President of the United States.
Cheers erupted from Hillary Clinton supporters as news agencies across the spectrum declared the former Secretary of State the winner of the Mississippi Democratic Primary.
The announcement came just a scant five minutes after polls closed. Both exit and pre-election polling showed Clinton with an insurmountable lead against her nearest opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Speaking at a Clinton-watch party in Jackson, Mississippi's Second District Congressman, Democrat Bennie Thompson says Clinton has the experience needed to be the Commander-in-Chief.
"She's through and well-versed on the issues, education, health-care, jobs," says Thompson, "those things that matter to Mississippi and this country. She's demonstrated a grasp of those issues."
On the Republican side of the primary, the race was a bit more contentious. Republican front-runner, billionaire, businessman Donald Trump has been facing stiffer competition from rivals.
However, results showed Trump was able to get roughly 48 percent of Mississippi's Republicans.
Jackson attorney Mitch Tyner is the Chair of the Mississippi Committee to Elect Donald Trump. He believes Republicans will rally behind Trump during the general election.
"Right now we're in the primary, and there are a lot of different people saying a lot of different things at this point," says Tyner. "I don't believe there is a single Republican out there that wants to say that there going to want to vote for a Democrat come the general election."
Across town, Ted Cruz supporters gathered to watch election results from a pizza parlor in Rankin County. While disappointed with the loss, supporters of the Texas Senator are optimistic. Since Trump was unable to garner support from more than 50 percent of GOP voters, Cruz will also get a significant number of delegates.
Ross Aldridge of Rankin County says its a victory.
"Ted Cruz is a winner to me, period," Aldridge says. "In Mississippi, since we are a proportional state in the awarding of our delegates, if we split them 20-20 give or take, that's still going to be great in the delegate counts since we're only 85 behind, give or take, on the national level."
Ohio Governor John Kasich and Florida Senator Marco Rubio received eight and five percent of the GOP vote respectively. Neither of them will receive any delegates.
