Businessman Donald Trump was declared the winner of Arkansas' Republican presidential primary Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press.
The AP called the race around 9:15 p.m.
While official results were still coming in Tuesday night, Secretary of State Mark Martin's office said Monday more than 118,000 people voted early in Republican primary, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
An increased turnout followed the primary being moved from May to March 1 to coincide with a series of Southern state elections dubbed the SEC primary.
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Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio made a series of pitches to voters in the state during campaign stops in central and northwest Arkansas in the days leading up to the election.
Many state Republican leaders, including Gov. Asa Hutchinson and majority leaders in the state House and Senate, endorsed Rubio ahead of the primary.
Meanwhile, Trump drew thousands of supporters at two rallies in the state. An estimated 2,000 people had to be turned away when Trump spoke to 5,000 at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, according to reports.
Speaking to reporters before the election was called Tuesday night, Hutchinson said he would support Trump if he wins the nomination, despite previously saying that Trump's "words are frightening" during an interview with National Public Radio.
"I think he has too much entertainment value. He does not inspire me in terms of confidence," Hutchinson said Tuesday, before adding that Trump's record as a businessman is appealing to many voters.
At a watch party for Republicans in West Little Rock, no announcement was made when the election was called, and people had already begun filing out as Trump's lead grew.
One Trump supporter, dressed in a cowboy hat wrapped in a Trump sticker, stood watching television results come in as the party wound down. Bill Kerr, 71 of Maumelle said he arrived to the party after spending hours putting out Trump yard signs and making calls to voters Tuesday.
"Some of the things he says he should have thought through a little better, but he's not a politician," said Kerr, a former state representative from Maumelle.
When asked about criticisms from Republicans who have accused Trump of not being conservative enough, Kerr quickly countered.
"They voted for Cruz and Rubio," he said. "They lost."
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
