Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada Caucus

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) cementing his status as the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination after a strong showing winning the Nevada caucus Saturday night, giving him a continuous momentum as moderate Democrats find it difficult to stop him.

“In Nevada we’ve just put together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition, which is going to not only win in Nevada, it’s going to sweep this country,” Sanders said to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at a rally in San Antonio, Texas. “No campaign has a grassroots movement like we do, which is another reason why we’re going to win this election.”

“Based on what I have seen in Texas, don’t tell anybody, I don’t want to get them nervous, we are going to win the Democratic primary in Texas,” he predicted.

With 50 percent of the precincts reporting, Sanders had 46.6 percent of the vote, while Former Vice President Joe Biden came in second with 19.2 percent. Coming in third was former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg who had 15.4 percent while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is in fourth place with 10.3 percent.

The Vermont senator defeated his opponents by a large margin, showing strength with minority and working-class voters. He won several downtown Las Vegas caucus sites, underscoring his strong support among the labor union rank and file who are a powerful force in Nevada politics.

Multiple News Network and Associated Press officially called the race for Sanders shortly after 8 p.m. ET., with less than 4 percent of the totals in.

Entrance polls indicate Sanders carried a strong lead among Latino voters, as well as having about a quarter of black voters, trailing behind Biden, who got 36 percent. Nevada, the third state to vote, is the first with as significant minority population. About 30% of the population are latinos, with 10% is black, and 10% is Asian American and Pacific Islander.

Sanders now has a lead in pledged delegate count after his victory in Nevada. More delegates will be awarded as the full result is finalized.

One-third of the delegates are up for grabs when 14 states and one U.S. territory hold nominating contests for Super Tuesday on March 3.