(WXYZ) - Voters in Michigan and Arizona have been heading to the polls for the states' Republican Primary elections.
Here in Michigan Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are battling it out in one of the most watched contests yet. Both men are fighting to come out ahead in what is being viewed as a critical race in the lead up to Super Tuesday.
Romney is battling for a victory in his home state, while Santorum is working to keep his momentum after good showing in the nation's earlier primaries.
WXYZ.com is providing live blogging coverage of the day's events. Check in below for all the updates as we move throughout the evening.
10:35 p.m. - Web Staff - Mitt Romney declares victory in Arizona and Michigan while speaking in Novi.
10:17 p.m - Web Staff - ABC News, CNN and The Associated Press have called the race for Mitt Romney.
10:10 p.m. - Web Staff - Rick Santorum: "The people of Michigan looked into the hearts of the candidates, and all I have to say is 'I love you back.'"
10:07 p.m. - Web Staff - Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is due to speak at any minute. Click here for streaming coverage .
9:47 p.m. - Web Staff - On our webcast, Channel 7 pollster Tim Kiska said "If someone put a gun to my head and I had to call it, I'd say Santorum squeaked it out. But nobody's got a gun to my head, and I don't have to call it."
9:42 p.m. - Cheryl Chodun at Santorum headquarters - The Ambassador Ballroom at the Amway Grand is filled with Santorum supporters but also a few Democrats who went out and voted for the former Senator.
Santorum won't be coming down to the ballroom until solid numbers are in. He is in a room here at the hotel with his wife Karen and his two oldest children.
9:38 p.m. - Web Staff - Bill Ballenger from Inside Michigan Politics is breaking down the results we're seeing so far on our webcast. Check it out. He's saying "Romney will have really dodged a bullet if he wins Michigan.
9:31 p.m. - Web Staff - WXYZ-TV Editorial Director Chuck Stokes is calling the Republican Michigan primary a "humdinger."
9:25 p.m. - Web Staff - Cheryl Chodun is talking with Santorum supporters in Grand Rapids. Check out our webcast for more.
9:09 p.m. - Tom Wait at Romney Headquarters - Crowd just erupted in applause -- campaign just announced to the room than CNN projects Romney the winner in Arizona.
9:07 p.m. - Web Staff - Early precinct indicators show a race that is too close to call at this point. Santorum 41%, Romney 40%, Paul 11%, Gingrich 6%
9:05 p.m. - Cheryl Chodun via Twitter ( @cchodun ) - A few Democrats who voted for Republican Rick Santorum showing up at his primary watch party.
9:00 p.m. - Web Staff - Our precinct indicators show that the Michigan Republican primary is too close to call.
8:43 p.m - Tom Wait via Twitter ( @Tomthereporter ) - Romney headquarters in Novi filling up... Motown music playing #backchannel img.ly/eytf
8:36 p.m - Web Staff - Cheryl Chodun is at Santorum headquarters, talking to a Democrat who voted for the former Senator. He says he's voting for Obama in November.
8:29 p.m. - Web Staff - We're talking with Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. She says turnout will probably be a little less than 20% of registered voters.
8:25 p.m. - Web Staff - Tom Wait is speaking with Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette at Romney headquarters. Check out the webcast for more .
8:15 p.m. - Web Staff - We're talking with Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. He says the race is a looking a lot closer than he thought it would, but that he's confident Mitt Romney will end up winning.
8:11 p.m. - Cheryl Chodun at Santorum headquarters - The Ambassador Ballroom is filling with Santorum supporters now that polls have closed.
8:03 p.m. - Tom Wait at Romney headquarters - The room is filling and supporters are getting situated and waiting for Romney to appear.
8:00 p.m. - Web Staff - The polls are now closed. Stay with us, we'll have the results as soon as they're available.
7:55 p.m. - Web Staff - We're just minutes away from the polls closing.
7:36 p.m. - Web Staff - Our Primary Election night web cast is off and running. Click here to check it out.
6:10 p.m. - Web Staff - Political experts have begun gathering in the newsroom. Channel 7 Pollster Tim Kiska has assembled an entire team here at Broadcast House to help him gather information when results start coming in.
4:15 p.m. - Kimberly Craig - In Birmingham this afternoon, election officials are reporting a light voter-turnout. One voter tells Action News that he doesn't believe many will punish Mitt Romney for not supporting the government bailout for the automakers and he predicts Romney will win the Michigan primary by a larger margin than anticipated.
2:14 p.m. - Kimberly Craig - In Royal Oak, 7 Action News talked to a couple of life-long Democrats who voted for Rick Santorum on the Republican ballot today. They say they would rather choose between President Obama and Santorum in the
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