Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the South Carolina primary, the Associated Press has reported as of 7:30 p.m. ET.
The 2016 South Carolina primary on Saturday, Feb. 20 was the first primary held in the south in the 2016 presidential election. Polling places were open until 7 p.m. ET Saturday, with votes going to candidates Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Ben Carson.
At the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9, GOP candidate Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders were declared winners. The Democratic primary in South Carolina will be held on Feb. 27. Hillary Clinton surged pass Sanders to win the Nevada Democratic caucus on Saturday.
Here is a roundup of significant events, updated throughout the night.
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Donald Trump Gives Celebratory Speech
After being declared winner of the South Carolina primary, Donald Trump gave his victory speech with his wife Melania and daughter Ivanka by his side.
"There is nothing easy about running for president. It's tough, it's nasty, it's mean, it's vicious. It's beautiful," said Trump. "We’re going to start winning for our country because our country doesn’t win anymore."
Trump did not mention Jeb Bush ending his campaign for presidency, but rather continued to express his goals to have Mexico pay for a wall along their border and for Obamacare to be repealed.
"We're going to do the wall and who is going to pay for the wall? Mexico is going to pay for the wall."
Trump ended his speech saying, "Let's have a big win in Nevada, let's have a big win at the SEC, let's put this thing away."
.@realDonaldTrump in his #SCPrimary victory speech: "Mexico is killing us" https://t.co/B0SRP3SP6D https://t.co/KBgv2yK6tg
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 21, 2016
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Earlier, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. shared a photo on Instagram of the Trump family ahead of his father's primary win.
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Jeb Bush Ends Presidential Bid
Image Credit: Mark Makela/Getty While the race continues to see who will come in second place at the SC Primary, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced he was ending his bid for the White House.
"The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken and I really respect their decision so tonight I am suspending my campaign," announced Bush. "I congratulate my competitors that are remaining on the island on their success for a race that has been hard fought."
.@JebBush suspends his presidential campaign after a disappointing finish in the #SCPrimary https://t.co/Bha0EFaGXW https://t.co/3AtL1QzZ7J
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 21, 2016
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Hollywood Reacts to Trump Victory
5:15 p.m. PT:
Trump's supporters took to Twitter on Saturday after his projected win, congratulating the candidate and projecting him as the GOP candidate that may go up against Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Could this be the ticket ???#TRUMP/RUBIO#myhumbleopinion
— Stacey Dash (@REALStaceyDash) February 21, 2016
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.@realDonaldTrump wins! Will be on @FoxBusiness at 8pET to discuss. #SCPrimary
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) February 21, 2016
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I LIKE IT A LOT!!! Congratulations @realdonaldtrump #Trump2016 #makeamericagreatagain https://t.co/zbvhqcplfq
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 21, 2016
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No one has won both NH & SC primary without becoming the nominee. GO TRUMP, GO!!!!!!!!!!
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 21, 2016
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Donald Trump Declared Winner
Image Credit: Getty Images 4:30 p.m. PT:
The Associated Press and CNN have declared Donald Trump the winner of the South Carolina primary, 30 minutes after the polls have closed. This is the second primary victory for the billionaire after he won in New Hampshire. Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are still in a race for second place.
BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the Republican primary in South Carolina. @AP race call at 7:29 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 21, 2016
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CNN projects that @realDonaldTrump has won the Republican #SCPrimary https://t.co/B0SRP3SP6D pic.twitter.com/y26mLtkzT1
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 21, 2016
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Candidates Campaign on Twitter
Updated 4 p.m. PT:
The GOP candidates have been tweeting out last-minute messages of support for their followers and endorsers Saturday as polling closes for the day.
People (pundits) gave me no chance in South Carolina. Now it looks like a possible win. I would be happy with a one vote victory! (HOPE)
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2016
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Less than 30 minutes to get out and vote in the South Carolina primary! #SCPrimary #SCforMarco pic.twitter.com/6IIa7IqLU2
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 20, 2016
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South Carolina: #ChooseCruz before 7 pm ET: https://t.co/HJE6u6E1El pic.twitter.com/4RC9naXJxD
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 20, 2016
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Jeb Bush tweeted out a video from Senator Lindsey Graham, telling voters to "Vote Jeb, I did."
.@LindseyGrahamSC has a message for our #SCPrimary voters. WATCH:https://t.co/ydErpMrAvv
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 20, 2016
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Marco Rubio had some downtime with family in South Carolina.
Tossing the football with my son Anthony at our South Carolina HQ today. #SCPrimary pic.twitter.com/c7cwWVikT7
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 20, 2016
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Ben Carson focused on immigration issues as voters went to the polls.
As President, my top domestic priority will be to stop illegal immigration. We must secure our border to ensure the safety of our people.
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) February 20, 2016
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John Kasich campaigned in Vermont Saturday.
Momentum is everywhere. Thank you Burlington! pic.twitter.com/6MZP6e0VEg
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) February 20, 2016
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AP Projects the Winner
3:15 p.m. PT:
By late afternoon, the Associated Press projected Donald Trump as the winner of the South Carolina primary, with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio close behind, using preference polls of voters in the area.
South Carolina preference polls are consistent. https://t.co/wXBRWepwKT pic.twitter.com/zukbJHxPgC
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) February 20, 2016
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