Sanders New Hampshire
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders smiles after winning at his 2016 New Hampshire presidential primary night rally in Concord, New Hampshire February 9, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Billionaire businessman Donald Trump wins New Hampshire's Republican presidential nominating contest, while U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont takes the Democratic primary over Hillary Clinton.

Trump's win solidifies his front-runner status in the race to be the party's White House nominee in 2016. The reality television star's untraditional campaign has been marked by calls for the deportation of illegal immigrants and temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States.

Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, was the underdog in the race against former Secretary of State Clinton. He had 51 percent of the vote in early returns, ahead of former Secretary of State Clinton, the perceived front-runner nationally, who had 40 percent, according to NBC.

Ohio Governor John Kasich came in second place. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz had hoped to secure the second place spot and justify continuing in the race.

New Hampshire is the second state in the process of picking party nominees for the Nov. 8 election to replace President Barack Obama.

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