WASHINGTON (AFP) - Senator Ted Cruz handily defeated Republican front runner Donald Trump late Tuesday (March 23) in Utah's presidential caucuses, putting up a spirited challenge against the brash billionaire as they battle for their party's presidential nomination.

With a quarter of precincts reporting, NBC and CNN projected Cruz the winner with about 70 per cent of the vote, with Ohio Governor John Kasich at 16 percent and Trump at 13 per cent.

Trump easily won the state of Arizona earlier Tuesday.