Sanders and Cruz hope for big wins as Wisconsin votes today


Wisconsin voters go to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the Republican and Democratic primaries, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are pushing for big wins. Both candidates lead in the polls, but Cruz has more to gain from a victory, since a sweep of the state's 42 delegates would make it much harder for GOP frontrunner Donald Trump to arrive at the Republican convention with the necessary 1,237 delegates to win the nomination outright. "If we do well here, it's over," Trump said at a campaign rally Monday. "If we don't win here, it's not over."
Even if Trump loses the state, though, he might mitigate his losses by winning two rural congressional districts and their six delegates, The New York Times notes. Because Democrats award delegates proportionally, a modest Sanders win would still put the nomination further out of reach; he needs 67 percent of the remaining delegates and unaligned superdelegates to catch up with Hillary Clinton. Still, a big Sanders win would highlight Clinton's weakness in the upper Midwest and add to Sanders' string of recent victories.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'"Andor" examines all sides of how empires operate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans