Donald Trump wins more delegates as protesters crash his New Mexico rally

Donald Trump has won the Republican primary in Washington state, helping him inch closer to claiming the GOP nomination for president.

The billionaire businessman's victory Tuesday pulls him within 44 delegates of the number needed to become the Republican nominee.

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Trump won at least 24 delegates in Washington state, with 20 still left to be allocated. He has 1,193 delegates. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the GOP nomination.

Trump is the only remaining candidate in the GOP contest. But his former opponents, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, were still on the ballot because they suspended their campaigns after the ballots were printed. Ben Carson was also on the ballot because he never submitted the paperwork to have his name removed.

There are no more Republican contests until June 7, when the last five states vote. With a total of 303 delegates at stake in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, Trump should easily clinch the nomination that day.

Meanwhile, anti-Trump protesters and police clashed outside the Albuquerque convention centre on Tuesday night when protesters tried to storm the centre, calling for an end to the Trump rally.

Albuquerque police said on Twitter that protesters threw rocks and bottles,and a door to the facility appeared to have been hit with something.

During the rally, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was interrupted repeatedly by protesters, who shouted, held up banners and resisted removal by security officers.

The banners included the messages "Trump is Fascist" and "We've heard enough."

At one point, a female protester was physically dragged from the stands by security. Other protesters scuffled with security as they resisted removal from the convention centre, which was packed with thousands of loud and cheering Trump supporters.

Trump responded with his usual bluster, instructing security to remove the protesters and mocking their actions by telling them to "Go home to mommy."

He responded to one demonstrator by asking, "How old is this kid?" Then he provided his own answer: "Still wearing diapers."

Trump's supporters responded with chants of "Build that wall!"

The altercations left glass at the entrance of the convention centre smashed.

Clinton wins primary, but Sanders previously gained delegates

Hillary Clinton was the nominal winner of the Democratic primary, but there were no delegates at stake. Washington Democrats previously awarded their delegates based on party caucuses.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won Washington's caucuses in March, getting 74 delegates. Clinton got 27.

Clinton is just 78 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nomination for president. She is on track to do so in early June, even if she loses all the remaining contests.

Clinton has 1,768 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. Sanders has 1,497.

Clinton's lead is even bigger when superdelegate endorsements are included. These are the party leaders and elected officials who can support the candidate of their choice.

Overall, Clinton has 2,305 delegates and Sanders has 1,539. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.