Polls are closing in Florida, where a GOP presidential primary is being held. Florida, once a key presidential battleground state with record-close elections, has shifted to become a more consistently Republican state in both state and federal elections.
In the last election, Donald Trump improved his standing with Latinos in the Sunshine State. In 2016, Latinos made up 18% of the presidential electorate, and Trump won 35% of them. By 2020, the Latino demographic had increased to 19% of the Florida electorate, with Trump winning 46% of their support.
There is no Florida Democratic primary on Tuesday, as the focus remains on the GOP presidential primary.
Meanwhile, polling is also closing in Illinois, where down-ballot primaries for the US House are taking place alongside the presidential contests. Illinois has solidified its status as a Democratic stronghold in presidential politics, consistently favoring Democrats in national elections since 1980.
The Democratic party's strength in Illinois is particularly evident in Chicago, while Republicans tend to perform better in areas outside of the city, including the collar counties. Central and Southern Illinois are known to be more favorable territories for Republicans.
Additionally, most polls closed at 8 p.m. ET in the presidential primaries in Kansas, with a few exceptions closing at 9 p.m. ET due to varying time zones. Republicans have historically dominated in Kansas, winning the state in 20 of the last 21 presidential elections dating back to 1940.
