Sanders was widely expected to carry the state. With early results showing Sanders with a substantial lad, Hillary Clinton's campaign released a memo stating that she conceded defeat in the state.
— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) February 10, 2016
— Alyona (@AlyonaMink) February 10, 2016
"The nomination will very likely be won in March, not February, and we believe that Hillary Clinton is well positioned to build a strong — potentially insurmountable — delegate lead next month," reads the memo, released by Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook.
The defeat signifies a significant stumbling block for Hillary Clinton, who carried the state during the 2008 primaries.
In the lead up to Tuesday’s vote, both candidates campaigned heavily. Clinton struggled to distance herself from Wall Street and the Democratic establishment. She also accused Sanders of hypocrisy over allegedly accepting $200,000 in donations from the banking industry.
The victory comes one week after Sanders’ narrow loss in the Iowa Caucuses. Clinton won with approximately 49.84 percent of the vote, earning 23 delegates, while Sanders lost by a narrow margin, receiving 49.59 percent of the vote and 21 delegates.
The candidates will continue onto Nevada later this month, with the second caucus being held on February 20. The race will continue in South Carolina on February 27.
Sanders made history in Iowa, being the first Jewish candidate to win delegates in a US primary or caucus. Tuesday’s victory makes him the first Jewish candidate to ever win a US presidential primary election.