Bernie Sanders Wins Maine Caucus, Marco Rubio Wins Puerto Rico Primary

Sanders will win 15 delegates in Maine, while Rubio may get all the delegates in Puerto Rico, according to NBC News.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has won the Maine caucus on Sunday, NBC News projected.

Sanders will win 15 of Maine's delegates, while Clinton will be awarded nine, according to estimates by NBC News. 

The win gives Sanders victories in eight states, compared to 11 wins for Clinton. 

Including superdelegates, Clinton now has 1,123 delegates and Sanders has 484. A candidate needs 2,383 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

Voter turnout was high in the Pine Tree State, overwhelming at least one caucus site in the city of Portland. According to necn, the city clerk's office closed before new voters could be registered, forcing staff members to rely on verbal declarations of party affiliation. Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling is pledging to authenticate those votes Monday if the voters stay and caucus Sunday.

Portland Sen. Justin Alfond, the Senate's Democratic leader, is announcing emergency legislation to bring back the primary system in Maine.

Alfond says he will be introducing the bill Monday to have both parties use primaries instead of caucuses.

Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has won Puerto Rico's Republican primary, NBC News projected.

Rubio took an overwhelming early lead in the U.S.'s territory Sunday, with 20 delegates to the national convention at stake.

Early returns showed Rubio with 2,463 votes, followed by Trump with 421 votes and Ted Cruz with 276 votes. Party officials estimate more than 30,000 people voted Sunday in an island struggling through a dire economic crisis.

In addition officials say the votes that some 6,000 inmates cast on Friday won't be available until Wednesday.

The U.S. territory's three other super-delegates already have committed to Rubio.

If a candidate gets more than half the votes, he gets all the delegates. If no one gets half, the delegates are divided proportionally.

Residents of the island cannot vote in the general election in November but they can take part in the party primaries. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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