Central Mass. results: Worcester sides with Trump (66.5%) in GOP primary

WORCESTER — Mirroring statewide and national results, President Joseph Biden and former President Donald Trump came out comfortably ahead in the Democratic and Republican primaries in Worcester Super Tuesday.

According to unofficial results from the City of Worcester, Biden won the Democratic primary with 77.9% of the vote, or 9,119, and Trump won with 66.5%, or 5,044 votes.

With both Biden and Trump seen as near certain locks for party nominations well ahead of Tuesday, turnout in Worcester stood at 17.3% of registered voters, down by over 11% compared with the 2020 presidential primaries when 28.7% of registered voters came out.

More: Primary Day in Massachusetts Recap: ‘It’s critical we get this right.’ Voters have their say

Biden's closest competition in Worcester was "no preference," which had 11% of the vote, or 1,295 votes. Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips came at 5% with 591 votes and author Marianne Williamson received 4% with 476 votes.

Following the surprisingly strong showing of a protest vote campaign in Michigan encouraging voters to select "uncommitted" in the Feb. 27 Democratic primary, there was a similar effort to select "uncommitted" or "no preference" in Massachusetts and in other states with the option.

While voters have historically selected "no preference" for a variety of reasons, this year's "no preference" campaign quickly organized to encourage an act of electoral protest against Biden's support of the Israeli military during the Israel-Hamas War and as a show of support for a permanent ceasefire to the conflict.

Nikki Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and the sole active challenger to Trump in the Republican primary, received 30% of the vote, 2,281 votes, in Worcester. She is expected to end her campaign.

Primary Day 'It’s a right to vote': Enthusiasm a winner at the presidential primary polls in Worcester

In neighboring Shrewsbury, unofficial results show Biden received 80.9%, or 2,687 votes, while no preference received 9.8%, or 327 votes. On the Republican side, Trump received 51.3%, or 1,925 votes, to Haley's 43.9%, or 1,647 votes.

In Fitchburg, unofficial results from the city report Biden received 78%, or 1,823 votes, while Phillips came in second with 7.4%, or 174 votes. On the Republican side, Trump received 58.7%, or 1,619 votes, to Haley's 26.1%, or 720 votes.

In Leominster, unofficial results from the city report Biden received 80.4%, or 2,255 votes while no preference came in second with 6.9%, or 193 votes. On the Republican side, Trump received 65%, or 2467 votes, to Haley's 31.8%, or 1,206 votes.

In Milford, unofficial results from the town report Biden received 81.2%, or 1,978 votes while no preference received 6.7%, or 163 votes. On the Republican side, Trump received 62.7%, or 1,605 votes, to Haley's 32.7%, or 838 votes.

In Gardner, unofficial city results report Biden received 78.4%, or 1,269 votes while no preference came in second with 8.8%, or 142 votes. On the Republican side, Trump received 70.3%, or 1,293 votes, to Haley's 26.5%, or 488 votes.

Tuesday, 15 states went to the polls on a day popularly known as Super Tuesday.

Results late into Tuesday night reinforced the likelihood that Biden and Trump are set for a rematch of the 2020 presidential election.

More: Trump and Biden roll to victory, but show signs of weakness, on Super Tuesday: 6 takeaways

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. results: Worcester sides with Trump (66.5%) in GOP primary