With 1% of the vote, the media was already calling the Iowa Caucus for President Donald Trump (R). This came around 36 minutes after the Caucus was opened at 8:00 p.m. for voting. Attention quickly focused on who would emerge in second place as the rest of the candidates attempted to gain support.
Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) have viciously fought over claiming second place heading into the Iowa Caucus. Ahead of the Caucus, Ambassador Haley appeared to have taken the second spot, but as the night began to unfold, it was clear that Governor DeSantis would be coming in second place.
This is something he was confident of heading into the night, telling reporters that this election was between him and President Trump and not between President Trump and Ambassador Haley.
Throughout the day, Governor DeSantis spoke to reporters, highlighting that President Trump was only in the election for himself and that he would deliver as president unlike President Trump.
At the DeSantis headquarters, James Uthmeier, Governor DeSantis’ campaign manager, denounced the announcement of the evening, saying that it was “appalling” and that “what the media did tonight is wrong.”
Uthmeier commented that having the media announce President Trump as the winner so early “challenges the very tenets of our Republican democracy.” Similar to what Governor DeSantis has argued in the past, Uthmeier said that polls do not elect presidents, people do.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R), who’s been viewed unfavorably by conservatives in recent weeks, commented on the Iowa Caucus results, saying that the “vote was an endorsement of President Trump’s extraordinary record and his ongoing vision to fix our economy, secure our border, and defend the freedoms and values that make America great.”
The candidates now set their sights on New Hampshire, and President Trump heads into that Caucus with 40 delegates.
