The 2020 New Hampshire primary

By Meg Wagner, Fernando Alfonso III, Mike Hayes and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 0650 GMT (1450 HKT) February 12, 2020
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12:09 a.m. ET, February 12, 2020

Here's what happened in the New Hampshire primary

The New Hampshire primary is over and Sen. Bernie Sanders has been named the victor with 26% of the vote with 94% of precincts reporting.

A lot happened tonight. Catch up on the crucial takeaways below:

  • Sanders wins, CNN projects: Sanders' projected victory tonight came a little more than a week after the Iowa caucuses were thrown into chaos by a failure of the state party’s vote-counting systems. This time around, the results were clear – and Sanders supporters at his headquarters in Manchester were free to celebrate without reservation. Sanders won the 2016 primary here by a much larger margin, but in 2020 faced a much wider and varied field.
  • Buttigieg came in a close 2nd: Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who rose in the polls here after battling Sanders to a virtual tie in Iowa, ultimately fell short in his efforts to knock Sanders off course. While speaking to supporters in Nashua, New Hampshire, Buttigieg said he admired Sanders when he was in high school. "I respect him greatly to this day, and I congratulate him on his strong showing tonight," he said.
  • Klobuchar outshines Warren: Sen. Amy Klobuchar outpaced Sen. Elizabeth Warren tonight in New Hampshire, capturing 19.7% of the vote to Warren's 9.3%.
  • The delegate count: CNN's estimate of the New Hampshire delegate count has Sanders and Buttigieg each taking home nine a piece and Klobuchar taking six. Combined with Iowa delegates, Buttigieg now has a total of 23, Sanders has 21 and Klobuchar has 7.
  • Biden falls: The former vice president will likely end up in fourth or fifth place. That's the worst finish for a former or current vice president who actively campaigned in the New Hampshire primary. Biden was competitive in the Granite State just recently. He led in at least a few polls in January. But just like in Iowa, Biden's support collapsed late. 

Watch the final projection:

11:40 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Sanders and Buttigieg each win 9 delegates

CNN
CNN

Here's CNN's estimate of the New Hampshire delegate count:

  • Bernie Sanders: 9
  • Pete Buttigieg: 9
  • Amy Klobuchar: 6

Combined with Iowa delegates, Buttigieg now has a total of 23, Sanders has 21 and Klobuchar has 7.

11:21 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Bernie Sanders wins the New Hampshire primary, CNN projects

From CNN's Gregory Krieg

Ben Lowy/CNN
Ben Lowy/CNN

Sen. Bernie Sanders has won the New Hampshire primary, CNN projects, clearing a key hurdle as the race moves to Nevada and South Carolina in the coming weeks.

His victory tonight came a little more than a week after the Iowa caucuses were thrown into chaos by a failure of the state party’s vote-counting systems. 

This time around, the results were clear – and Sanders supporters at his headquarters in Manchester were free to celebrate without reservation.

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who rose in the polls here after battling Sanders to a virtual tie in Iowa, ultimately fell short in his efforts to knock Sanders off course.

Sanders won the 2016 primary here by a much larger margin, but in 2020 faced a much wider and varied field.

Buttigieg’s solid showing and a late surge from Sen. Amy Klobuchar highlighted both the strength and continued indecision of the party’s moderate wing, who have not yet coalesced around alternative to the front-running Sanders. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign, which appears to be caught in a no-man’s land between Democrats’ ideological bases, will now face more serious questions about her path to the nomination.

Watch Jake Tapper's analysis: 'A stunning achievement by Sanders' 

11:23 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Sanders declares victories in New Hampshire and Iowa, thanks opponents

From CNN's Lauren Dezenski

Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders took to the stage in New Hampshire and declared victory thanks to his volunteers -- with a nod to his strong showing in Iowa last week.

"With victories behind us, popular vote in Iowa and victory here tonight, we’re going to Nevada, we’re going to South Carolina, we’re going to win those states," Sanders said. He was joined on stage by his extended family.

Sanders won Iowa's popular vote, but had fewer awarded delegates than Pete Buttigieg. Delegate count determine's Iowa's caucus winner, not the popular vote.

Sanders also thanked his opponents early on in the speech, a shift away from the more negative tone that settled over the Democratic primary field ahead of Tuesday's caucuses.

"Tonight I want to take my opportunity to express my appreciation and respect for all of the candidates we ran against: Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and what I can tell you, with absolute certainty and I know I speak for every one of the Democratic candidates is that no matter who wins, and we certainly hope it’s going to be us, we are going to unite together and we are going to defeat the most dangerous president in modern history," Sanders told the crowd.

Watch the moment:

11:19 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Buttigieg: "I admired Sen. Sanders when I was a high school student"

Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images
Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg is addressing supporters in Nashua, New Hampshire, saying he admired his competitor Sen. Bernie Sanders when he was in high school.

"I admired Sen. Sanders when I was a high school student. I respect him greatly to this day, and I congratulate him on his strong showing tonight.

The race in New Hampshire is still too close to call. With 82% of precincts reporting, Sanders maintains a slight lead with 26% of the vote in New Hampshire. Buttigieg is close behind with 24.3%.

Watch the moment:

10:55 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

New Hampshire race still too close to call with Sanders and Buttigieg in dead heat

With 82% of precincts reporting, Sen. Bernie Sanders maintains his lead with 26% of the vote in New Hampshire with former Mayor Peter Buttigieg close behind with 24.3%.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar remains in third place with 19.9%.

Watch John King's analysis: 'This is a 4,000-vote race'

10:44 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Buttigieg campaign source: "This was Bernie’s backyard" and the gap is narrowing

From CNN's Abby Phillip

As returns come in, the Pete Buttigieg campaign has their eyes on the suburbs, a source says.

So far, Buttigieg has been performing well there, but also performing well in general throughout the state. 

This source says they are “feeling generally good.”

“This was Bernie’s backyard, spent more money than anyone, won with 60 in four years. And we’re right there," the source said.

The gap between Sanders and Buttigieg continues to narrow with 70% of precincts reporting in New Hampshire.

Sanders leads 26% of the vote, compared to Buttigieg's 24.2%. 

10:39 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Here's how many delegates Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar have earned so far

Here's the latest New Hampshire delegate estimate from the CNN Decision Desk:

  • Bernie Sanders: 8
  • Pete Buttigieg: 7
  • Amy Klobuchar: 6

There are 24 total delegates at stake in New Hampshire, meaning there are three left.

Watch CNN's David Chalian explain the delegate count:

10:27 p.m. ET, February 11, 2020

Here are the top 4 candidates with 70% of precincts reporting

The gap between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former mayor Pete Buttigieg continues to narrow with 70% of precincts reporting in New Hampshire.

Sanders leads 26% of the vote, compared to Buttigieg's 24.2%.

In third is Sen. Amy Klobuchar with 20.1% followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 9.3%.