Rubio wins Puerto Rico Republican primary

Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) is the projected winner of the Sunday Republican primary in Puerto Rico, where 23 delegates are at stake. 

{mosads}With about 86 percent of the vote tallied, Rubio had 74 percent of the vote, with Donald Trump in a far-distant second with around 13 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz was hovering around 9 percent and Ohio John Kasich had 1.3 percent — about 435 votes.

Rubio had already earned the support of three superdelegates and will get the other 20 as well, given his wide margin of victory. Delegates are proportionally divided only among candidates who receive more than 20 percent of the vote. 

Although those living in Puerto Rico can’t participate in the general election in November, Republicans can choose a candidate in the primary.

Even before the results were finalized, the former governor of the island tweeted congratulations to Rubio. 

.@marcorubio won big today in Puerto Rico. All 23 delegates will be pledged to him at the GOP convention. On to Cleveland! #Marcomentum

— Luis Fortuño (@luisfortuno51) March 6, 2016

Democrats in Puerto Rico will caucus to chose a candidate on June 5.

In Puerto Rico, about 6,000 prisoners were given the chance to cast absentee ballots, The Associated Press reported. About 25,000 people were expected to show up to vote, meaning that number made up a significant portion of the expected voters.

Voters were looking for a candidate who could help the island’s economic crisis, according to the AP.

Rubio held a campaign event in Puerto Rico on Saturday.  

Updated 6:36 p.m.