mobanmarketFormer Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE scored a decisive victory in Florida on Tuesday, trouncing Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) in the country’s third-most populous state and a critical general election battleground.
The race in Florida was a blowout for Biden. With about 76 percent of precincts reporting, the former vice president led Sanders by nearly 40 percentage points.
Heading into Tuesday’s primary, which took place amid coronavirus fears, there was little doubt that Biden would capture Florida and a large portion of its 219 pledged delegates.
His victory is likely to bolster his argument that he is the candidate best equipped to win in a state that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE narrowly won in the 2016 general election.
Sanders, for his part, was not expecting a win in Florida, a state that he lost in his 2016 primary bid against Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE by more than 30 points. But his political fortunes in the state on Tuesday fared even worse than they did four years ago.
Biden was on track to beat Sanders in a handful of counties — mostly in North Florida and the Panhandle — that the Vermont senator won in 2016.
The primary electorate on Tuesday was largely favorable to Biden. Black and Hispanic voters made up about half of those who cast ballots in the nominating contest, and self-described moderates accounted for a plurality of the vote, according to exit polling.
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Biden also won Illinois, a race that was called soon after Florida was projected to go to Biden.
Arizona is the third state voting on Tuesday, with polls set to close at 10 p.m. ET. Biden is favored to win the state as well.
Florida, however, holds symbolic value in the race. Not only is it the nation’s largest and most volatile swing state in general elections, but it is nominally President Trump’s home state. The president, who owns several properties in Florida, claimed residency status there last year.
Updated at 8:31 p.m.