DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — A bitterly divisive presidential primary, particularly among Republican candidates, has led to massive voter turnout all across the nation and Dawson County was no exception.

More than half the county’s 12,637 registered voters turned out yesterday and carried New York billionaire Donald Trump to a landslide victory.

Trump, who won seven of the 11 states that conducted primaries on SEC Tuesday, towered above the five-man field, receiving 2,649 votes or 45.4 percent. His nearest rival was Texas Senator Ted Cruz who posted victories in his home state of Texas, Oklahoma and Alaska. Cruz on 1,465 votes or 25.12 percent. Florida’s Senator Marco Rubio finished third with 1,094 followed by Dr. Ben Carson 311 and former Ohio Governor John Kasich with 266.

Glenda Ferguson said this was the largest voter turnout for a presidential election since she became the county’s election superintendent in 2007. Ferguson said she was surprised but not too surprised.

“We had been warned by Michael Barnes, Director of the Center for Elections Systems at Kennesaw State University to not take the day lightly and he was right,” she said. “The lines were full and steady all day long.”