The results are in!
According to the Associated Press, New York businessman Donald Trump has come out on top with the Republicans in the Arizona presidential preference election.
Thank you, Arizona! #Trump2016#WesternTuesday #TrumpTrain pic.twitter.com/VMCzxrryG8
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2016
Trump made three campaign appearances before raucous crowds in Arizona, where GOP primaries have long been dominated by the immigration debate. The debate peaked in 2010 with the state's passage of the anti-immigration law known as SB1070 but waned in recent years after business leaders tired of the backlash and series of legal challenges.
Trump revived the debate nationally after declaring he would build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and make Mexico pay for it. He called Mexican immigrants rapists and drug dealers and vowed to forcibly deport the 11 million people living in the country illegally. He sought the endorsement of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who made a name for himself as an immigration fighter but was forced by a federal judge to quit enforcing immigration laws after being found to have violated people's constitutional rights.
Gov. Jan Brewer also endorsed Trump.
Minutes before the polls closed in Arizona's presidential primary, lines at some polling places are still hundreds of people deep with waits of two hours.
Trump's win puts him closer to a GOP presidential nomination ahead of July's Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
At a downtown Phoenix polling place, crowds lined around the salvation army building and halfway down the block. A couple passed out drinks and snacks to voters.
Voters like 49-year-old Bruce Weiss were incredibly frustrated. He'd been waiting for 2 1/2 hours and called the experience "like a complete total failure of government."
Toni Stamps says she was actually glad to be in line and cheered by the huge turnout.
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