Former President Donald Trump secured a landslide win in the Iowa caucus on Monday night, solidifying his front-runner status for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The triumph, reported by New York Post, saw Trump command an impressive 51.1% support, marking the largest margin of victory in the modern history of the Iowa GOP caucus, dating back to 1976.
Trump’s commanding lead surpassed his rivals, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis securing 21.2%, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 19.1%, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trailing at 7.7%. Trump’s dominance extended across 98 out of 99 counties, with only Johnson County narrowly favoring Haley.
Addressing supporters in Des Moines, Trump, adopting an uncharacteristically subdued tone, congratulated his competitors. “I want to congratulate Ron and Nikki for having a good time together. We’re all having a good time together,” he said, emphasizing unity and paying tribute to his late mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs.
However, the early projection of Trump’s victory triggered frustration from the DeSantis camp. Campaign manager James Uthmeier accused the media of influencing the outcome, emphasizing DeSantis’s support despite the premature announcement. DeSantis, addressing his supporters in West Des Moines, decried the media’s influence and highlighted the significant financial investment in his Iowa ground game.
Trump’s popularity was evident in a pre-caucus AP-NORC survey, with 88% of Iowa Republicans seeking either “substantial change” or “total upheaval” in the country’s governance. Immigration emerged as the top concern for 40% of Iowa GOP voters, overshadowing economic issues, and a majority expressed strong support for building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
Despite efforts from DeSantis and other rivals, a significant portion of Iowans who caucused for Trump had made their decision beforehand. Trump’s support was robust in small towns, rural communities, and among white evangelical Christians, showcasing his broad appeal. While DeSantis performed well in Iowa’s suburbs, Trump secured a plurality of support in the area.
Undeterred by the Iowa outcome, DeSantis was scheduled to move on to South Carolina and then New Hampshire for campaign events. Nikki Haley, expressing confidence as she headed to New Hampshire, declared, “As we head to New Hampshire, I have one more thing to say — we’re going to win.” Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, conceding the reality of the situation, swiftly suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump.
Trump’s campaign, employing a “10 for Trump” strategy, strategically recruited new or irregular participants through caucus captains, leading to a significant victory. The strategy’s success was evident with Trump’s paraphernalia dominating a West Des Moines caucus attended by a Post reporter.
Despite facing harsh weather conditions, Iowa Republicans demonstrated their commitment with a turnout lower than 2016 but in line with 2012 figures. The temperature on caucus night hit a record low, with a wind chill making it feel like negative-30 degrees Fahrenheit.
As the dust settles from Monday’s results, Trump and his rivals must swiftly shift their focus to the upcoming New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23, where recent polls indicate a narrowing gap in support between Trump and Haley, setting the stage for another critical showdown in the 2024 Republican primary.
