Ted Cruz Wins Kansas Caucuses as 5 States Vote on ‘Super Saturday’

Senator Ted Cruz scored a hard-fought and decisive win in the Kansas caucuses on Saturday, demonstrating his enduring appeal among conservatives as he tries to reel in Donald J. Trump’s significant lead in the Republican presidential race.

Mr. Cruz’s victory illustrated the doubts about Mr. Trump that still linger among the sort of traditional Republicans who attend time-intensive party caucuses. With results still being tallied, Mr. Trump appeared to finish well behind Mr. Cruz, with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida taking third.

“God bless Kansas!” Mr. Cruz exulted at a rally in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which votes on Tuesday. “What we’re seeing is the public coming together, libertarians coming together, men and women who love the Constitution coming together and uniting and standing as one behind this campaign.”

The Kansas results also marked another setback for Mr. Rubio, who enjoyed the support of Gov. Sam Brownback and backed out of trips to Kentucky and Louisiana on Friday to make three stops across Kansas. Mr. Rubio won just a single state on Super Tuesday, Minnesota, his only victory to date in the campaign, and lags well behind Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz in delegates.

Mr. Trump’s loss underlined his continued vulnerability in states that hold caucuses: He has now lost four of five such contests. He has performed far better in states holding primaries, which require less organization, and some of which also allow Democrats and independents to vote in Republican races. Such voters, who can be receptive to Mr. Trump’s anti-establishment message, have augmented Mr. Trump’s support among registered Republicans.

But Kansas, which awards its delegates proportionally, did not put much of a dent in Mr. Trump’s lead nor suggest a significant reversal in fortunes for the divisive front-runner, whom much of the party is desperately trying to defeat.

Republicans were also voting on “Super Saturday” in Louisiana, Kentucky and Maine, contests that have largely been overshadowed by votes earlier in the week and the looming March 15 showdowns in Florida and Ohio that could effectively end the race.