Cruz Drops Out, Leaving Trump as Presumptive GOP Nominee

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It sounded like a joke just months ago, but tonight Donald Trump has become the presumptive GOP presidential nominee after cruising past Ted Cruz in Indiana, a do-or-die state for the evangelical Texas senator, who’s now called it quits.

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said it himself:

In Iowa, the news was enough for prominent Cruz backer and conservative radio host Steve Deace to finally forsake the Republican Party:

Cruz’s unprecedented, last-ditch strategy to name failed HP CEO Carly Fiorina as his running mate couldn’t save his campaign, further showing that although Bob Vander Plaats may be Iowa’s GOP presidential kingmaker his reach has limits:

No word yet on Twitter from Steve King, whose endorsement of the anti-RFS Cruz earned him a primary challenger this summer, nor Sarah Palin, who endorsed Trump at a January rally in Ames.

Read all of our Trump coverage, including our exclusive interview with the Iowa City man who chucked tomatoes at the candidate, look at the Des Moines first grader starring in videos reciting profane Trump quotes, and story with thoughts from prominent Iowa Chris Christie backers when the New Jersey governor endorsed The Donald, right here.

Gavin Aronsen
Gavin Aronsen is an editor and reporter for and founding member of the Iowa Informer. He previously worked as a city reporter for the Ames Tribune, research assistant to investigative journalist Wayne Barrett at the Village Voice, and in various roles at Mother Jones, where his work contributed to a National Magazine Award nomination for the magazine's digital media coverage of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Email: garonsen [at] iowainformer [dot] com.