Final Results: Hillary Clinton Wins Ohio Democratic Primary Over Bernie Sanders

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took home a primary election win over Sen. Bernie Sanders in Ohio on Tuesday, leading the democratic votes by a margin of nearly 14%. Clinton was victorious with 57% of the democratic vote in Ohio while Sanders received 43%. 

The Associated Press called the Ohio primary election just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, naming Hillary Clinton as the winner for the dems. The result was as big of a win for Clinton as it was a loss for her rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had pegged his hopes on another Midwestern upset after beating Clinton in Michigan last week.

But Clinton turned in a commanding victory that moves her yet another step closer to securing the Democratic party's nomination.

Clinton addressed an enthusiastic crowd in Florida Tuesday night.

"America is hungry for solutions," she said in her West Palm Beach speech. "We all must rise together."

She appealed to middle class voters by vowing to work hard for them if elected president.

"Good paying jobs are the ticket for the middle class," she said. "And no one is going to stop us from getting them. Not China, not Wall Street, and not corporate executives."

Case Western Reserve University's political science chair, Dr. Karen Beckwith, said she was not at all surprised by the Clinton win in Ohio.

"I'm not surprised by Clinton's win here, but I am very interested to see the exit polls," she said. She stated that Clinton's landslide win status was the only surprising part of her win in Ohio, as forecasts predicted a margin of less than 20% between Clinton and Sanders in the state.

Beckwith credited a hard-driven Ohio campaign by Clinton for the win.

"This is a huge win for Clinton in Ohio. She campaigned to working class voters and it's clear that she did well here," she said.

Polls showed Sanders, hoping to ride a wave of discontent over the loss of manufacturing jobs that once gave Ohio one of the strongest economies in the nation, was narrowing in on Hillary Clinton's lead as voting began Tuesday.

• See also: Primary Results for Ohio Republican Primary

Shortly after voting ended, NBC News reported Clinton held a small, but statistically insignificant lead and she was named the projected winner in North Carolina and Florida. Ohio followed closely behind, as the AP called a Clinton win shortly before 9 p.m.

Coming off a surprise win in Michigan, Sanders has been battering Clinton with her own votes for NAFTA and other trade agreements she has supported.

• See Also: Check Primary Election Results from Illinois, Missouri, Florida and North Carolina

His challenge is to show that Michigan represented a shift in the mood of Democrats toward his candidacy

If he can win Ohio and either Missouri or Illinois, Sanders will make the same case the polls make: That he is the more likely Democratic candidate to defeat Republican Donald Trump.

Here's his problem: In a close race that he wins, he loses. That is, with Clinton's large lead, Sanders needs not only to defeat her but to defeat her decisively because of the proportional delegates awarded in Democratic primaries.

• Refresh this page for live Ohio primary voting updates as they come in.

Ohio Democratic Primary Election Results Updated at 12:14 a.m.

(99% precincts reporting)

Hillary Clinton: - 57%

Bernie Sanders: - 43%

What Ohio's Democratic Voters Are Saying

Ohio's democratic voters were not shy about sharing their preferred candidates or their opinions with Patch.

Erin Stewart, a Sheffield Lake resident, said she felt Bernie Sanders was the best bet.

"I felt the Bern. I believe he is looking to make our home better for everyone," she told Patch. "With four children, we can't afford to send them all to college. Sanders is looking to help with that. Trump is looking to turn this country into a land of pure chaos."

Cleveland Heights voter Chani Ferguson also voted for Bernie Sanders.

"I voted for Bernie because I think that he's a candidate that speaks to the underdogs, the struggling, and those who are ready for a change. Some say his policies are too radical but I see them as ensuring that all Americans have a fighting chance," she said.

Ann Kostos, a Parma voter, said that Hillary Clinton got her vote.

"I'm a big Hillary supporter. I was in 2008 too. I went to the polls early today excited to cast my vote for her, but I'm more interested in what happens on the other side in Ohio today. Math tells me a Clinton nomination is imminent," she said.

See Also: Check Primary Election Results from Illinois, Missouri, Florida and North Carolina