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Donald Trump Wins Illinois GOP Primary: 'He's Got That Mystique'

By  Joe Ward and David Matthews | March 15, 2016 8:47pm | Updated on March 15, 2016 11:28pm

"I'm a union man and I'm a minority so I'm supposed to be a whiny, b****y liberal," one Trump supporter said ahead of Friday's rally. "But no, I love Trump. And I love Israel!"
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DNAinfo/Joe Ward

CHICAGO — Chicago may have shut down Republican front-runner Donald Trump's rally last week, but Illinois voters still came out to support the billionaire businessman Tuesday.

SEE LIVE ELECTION RESULTS FROM ILLINOIS HERE

With 93 percent of ballots counted in Illinois, Trump led the GOP pack with 39 percent of the vote. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was at 30 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 20 percent and Florida Senator Marco Rubio at 8 percent. 

While the majority of Republican voters live in the suburbs and downstate, Chicagoans cast many more GOP ballots than usual. 

The number of Republican ballots cast in Illinois will exceed the 47,738 cast during the 2012 election. Republican turnout was just shy that number, with more than half of precincts reporting in Chicago as of 8 p.m., according to unofficial election results.

"I've never voted for a Republican ever," said Ryan Graves, of Mt. Greenwood. "I've been a Democratic precinct captain for 10 years. I like Trump. He's got that mystique."

Graves, 33, was outside a Mt. Greenwood polling place working to garner votes for his father, Steven Graves, who is running for a local Republican committee seat.

RELATED: Why Doesn't Chicago Have 'I Voted' Stickers For Elections?

Graves said he decided to support Trump because he feels he is someone who can break through political gridlock. He also said that he appreciates that Trump is not soliciting campaign contributions from the billionaire class that flood some candidates with cash.

"I like that he's not beholden to anyone," Graves said. "If someone isn't beholden, I think they can better make a difference." 

Despite the win, Trump didn't throw a Downtown victory party Tuesday night, and the hotel bar inside his namesake riverfront tower didn't, either.

The scene at Rebar Lounge inside the Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave., was quiet, with the bar playing sports instead of political coverage well after polls in other states closed at 6:30 p.m.

The hotel and Trump's presidential campaign are "kept very separate," one bar employee said. 

The bar coincidentally still turned out a few Trump supporters visiting Chicago. 

"(Trump) is right when he says we don't win anymore," said Shawn Hoffman, a retired man visiting from Loves Park. "Whether it's trade, whatever."

Though he supports Trump, Hoffman said he was just visiting town and didn't mean to be drinking at the presidential candidate's bar on election night.

"When I come to the city I stay here," Hoffman said. "This place is the best. What's not to like?"

Some Chicago voters turned up to vote against the former reality television star.

"Not Trump!" said Eric Gaughan, voter from Mt. Greenwood, when asked who he is voting for.

Despite the Southwest Side's majority white, working class demographics, Gaughan said he doesn't think the Republican front-runner has garnered much support in the area.

"Around here, I'm not sure he has [support]," Gaughan said. "But nobody's perfect." 

Gaughan said he voted for Bernie Sanders, who he said would be best for the working class.

"If it's not him in the general election, then I'll vote for Hillary," he said. 

Last week, Trump canceled his scheduled Chicago rally at the UIC Pavilion after protesters and opponents turned out en masse to square off with supporters, saying he didn't "want to see anyone hurt."

Cruz, who also was campaigning in Illinois Friday night, blamed Trump for aggressive clashes at the Chicago rally.

"A campaign bears responsibility for creating an environment where the candidate urges supporters to engage in violence," Cruz said, referring to recent incidents in which Trump suggested protesters should be "roughed up" and "I'd like like to punch [that protester] in the face."

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