WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- New York billionaire Donald Trump on Saturday won the South Carolina Republican primary, according to projections by major U.S. TV networks.

Shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. local time (0000 GMT), Trump, who so far had upended the party establishment in this presidential election cycle, was declared winner by almost all major U.S. TV networks.

Early results with 24 percent of all votes counted show Trump won 33.8 percent, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Senator Marco Rubio competing for the second place. The victory was Trump's second in a row following New Hampshire on Feb. 9.

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton snatched a key victory in Nevada Democratic caucuses days before the crucial "Super Tuesday" round on March 1.