Former President Donald Trump defeated lone Republican challenger Nikki Haley by over 40 points in the Michigan primary.
With 12% of the vote counted, The Associated Press called the race for Trump shortly after polls closed. At the time, Trump secured 66% of the vote compared to Haley's 29.4%.
Trump has handily defeated Republican challengers in every state primary election this season by double-digit margins.
"I just want to thank everybody. … The numbers are far greater than we even anticipated," Trump told the Michigan GOP Watch Party shortly after the race was called, adding he would be doing a "lot more campaigning" over the next couple of months.
"I can tell you this November cannot come fast enough," Trump continued. "We have the worst president in history—the most incompetent and the most corrupt president, and we can't let this continue."
"So that day, November 5th, and January 20th is when we take over," Trump added of Election Day and Inauguration Day. "We're going to make America great again, greater than ever before."
President Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, securing 80% of votes cast with 83% of precincts reporting. Biden notably lost nearly 14% of uncommitted voters along with several points to Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips.
Haley said Biden's total loss of 20% of Democratic voters in the state was a sign of his "weakness" this November. She also similarly suggested Trump's performance in Michigan was lacking.
"Joe Biden is losing about 20 percent of the Democratic vote today, and many say it’s a sign of his weakness in November. Donald Trump is losing about 35 percent of the vote. That’s a flashing warning sign for Trump in November," the campaign said in a statement, per CNN.
Despite significantly trailing Trump throughout the primary season, Haley has vowed to remain in the race.
“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. South Carolina has spoken,” Haley told her camp following last Saturday's election. “We’re the fourth state to do so. In the next ten days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice. Not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate. And I have a duty to give them that choice.”
Trump and Haley will face off in the Michigan, Idaho, and Missouri caucuses on March 2, followed by 16 more state primaries on March 5's Super Tuesday.
