CHICAGO — Just days after canceling a campaign rally here, Donald Trump hosted his Illinois election party Tuesday behind closed doors.
The Republican presidential front-runner held no public watch party or other events for Chicago supporters after polls closed Tuesday night. The Trump campaign instead hosted a private watch party in the suburbs, an event that wasn't open to the public "because of security concerns," according to a source. Trump himself spent Tuesday night in Florida.
The closed party came less than a week after Trump, who led in the polls leading up to win the Illinois' primary, canceled a Friday rally at the University of Illinois-Chicago over safety concerns after thousands of protesters descended on the venue. Trump later told cable news networks that his freedom of speech was "totally violated" by the protesters.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Republican Party will host a watch party in support of Trump rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at McGee's Tavern, 950 W. Webster Ave., in Lincoln Park. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is also hosting a private election party Tuesday night in the Loop.
Trump won the Illinois primary and other races Tuesday as he looks to lock up the delegates he needs to clinch the Republican nomination for president. Spokespeople for the Trump campaign did not return messages seeking comment.
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