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How Many Delegates Did Trump Win In NJ?

by Lauren Barbato

As expected, billionaire business mogul Donald Trump won the New Jersey primary Tuesday night. Trump received more than 80 percent of the vote, winning all of the Garden State's 51 available delegates. New Jersey is a winner-take-all state, so Trump had to win a majority of the votes to receive all those coveted delegates. Six states held presidential primaries on Tuesday, and New Jersey was one of the biggest wins of the day for both the Republican and Democratic candidates. Only California, the most populous state in America, had more delegates up for grabs for both parties.

It was no surprise that Trump clinched New Jersey. The businessman and New York native was technically the only Republican candidate still in the presidential race, though there were several other names on Tuesday's ballot. Trump shared the New Jersey ballot with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, both of whom dropped out of the race in early May.

Still, Kasich and Cruz garnered some votes in the Garden State. Kasich came in second with roughly 13 percent of the vote, while Cruz finished in third with just 6 percent. Neither Cruz or Kasich received any delegates, because of New Jersey's winner-take-all delegate rules.

Trump was supported in New Jersey by Gov. Chris Christie, who, at one time, was also in the running for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump held a fundraiser for Christie in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in late May to help the governor pay off his campaign debt.

EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images

Christie has been one of the only high-profile Republican politicians to publicly back Trump's most recent comments about a U.S. district judge of Mexican heritage. Trump claimed Judge Gonzalo Curiel was biased in a case against Trump University because Curiel, who is American and was born in Indiana, was of Mexican heritage. Christie supported Trump on Tuesday, telling reporters that the businessman is "not a racist." The New Jersey governor also called the news story a "kerfuffle" and said Trump has a "right" to his opinions.

There's been a ton of speculation about Christie possibly being named on the Republican ticket alongside Trump, but the New Jersey governor has yet to confirm his VP nomination. On Tuesday, Christie assured curious reporters: "I've had no conversations about it."

What's interesting, though, is that it's likely both vice presidential nominees may hail from New Jersey this election cycle. On the Democratic side, current New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has been named a possible running mate for presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton. Make sure to practice your fist pumping — you may need it this November.