on february 11, 2020, sanders won the new hampshire primary winning almost 26% of the vote compared to buttigieg's 24%. on february 23, sanders won the nevada caucus in a landslide victory winning 40% of the popular vote and 47% of the county convention delegates. following the race, sanders became the democratic front-runner leading with 34 delegates and nearly 26% of the popular vote. he also became the first presidential candidate, democrat or republican, to win the popular vote in the first three primary states in a row. in february 29, sanders lost the south carolina primary winning nearly 20% of the vote to biden's 48%.