New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary was called for Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) Tuesday night. He won the Granite State with 25.8 percent of the vote.
Sanders's victory was expected as the Vermont senator has consistently been the frontrunner in the state, according to RealClearPolitics’s average of polling. However, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg had given him a run for his money throughout the evening, at one point coming within two percentage points of the senator.
WATCH: "This victory is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Bernie Sanders says as he wins the #NHPrimary.
— NBC News NOW (@NBCNewsNow) February 12, 2020
"No matter who wins ... [Democrats] are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country." pic.twitter.com/Tr5RbTx0jG
New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said Granite State Democrats gravitated toward Sanders because of his authenticity.
"Bernie is as socialist as they come, but, at the end of the day, he's pretty as unabashed about it,” he told CNBC. “He doesn't change his position. He is what he is."
Other voters in the state said they were drawn toward Sanders because he was the one candidate the media seemed most biased against.
"[T]he kinda 'Stop Bernie' cynicism that I heard from a number of people — I watch MSNBC constantly, so I heard that from a number of commentators — it made me angry enough, I said, 'Ok, Bernie's got my vote,'" a New Hampshire voter told MSNBC.
That type of coverage continued Tuesday evening, as pundits attempted to make the case that third place is more significant than first place.
"..a third place finish for Amy would be stronger and more important than a first place finish for Bernie." - @MSNBC pundit
— David Doel (@daviddoel) February 11, 2020
This is where cable news is at now ?? https://t.co/9NYUFoK50t
Candidates will face off next week for the ninth presidential debate on Feb. 19, just days before the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22.