After weekend wins, Clinton is 26 delegates short of clinching nomination

Hillary Clinton won decisive victories in Sunday's Democratic primary in Puerto Rico and Saturday's Virgin Islands caucus, putting her just 26 delegates shy of the 2,383 she needs to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, according to an Associated Press tally. But like rival Bernie Sanders, Clinton is focusing on California, one of five states that hold nominating contests on Tuesday. At a rally in Sacramento on Sunday, Clinton urged her supporters to turn out on Tuesday, saying she wants to "finish strong in California. It means the world to me." She will almost certainly secure the last 26 delegates in New Jersey on Tuesday, before polls close in California.
In the Virgin Islands, Clinton got all seven delegates up for grabs, and Puerto Rico handed Clinton at least 33 of its 60 delegates, as Clinton beat Sanders 61 percent to 39 percent. With those wins, Clinton has 1,809 pledged delegates to Sanders' 1,520. So Clinton's securing of the nomination on Tuesday will require superdelegates — with those included, Clinton leads Sanders 2,357 to 1,566, according to the AP's count. Sanders is not giving up, pledging to take his argument that he's the superior candidate all the way to the Democratic convention in July, hoping to flip superdelegates. On Sunday, one superdelegate, Puerto Rico's Andres Lopez, got off the fence and endorsed Clinton, saying, "It is time to focus on squashing 'El Trumpo.'"
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.
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
The battle for 21st century naturism laid bare
In The Spotlight Nudist lifestyle falling out of favour in Germany but naked attraction is on the rise in the UK
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why do young people love ASMR?
Podcast Plus can US football stamp out homophobia? And why is Scottish Gallic getting a TV boost?
By The Week UK Published
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining House
Speed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses Ukraine intelligence sharing
Speed Read The decision is intended to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rules against Trump on aid freeze
Speed Read The court rejected the president's request to freeze nearly $2 billion in payments for foreign humanitarian work
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published