Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses, solidifying his lead as the top contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Trump is expected to surpass Sen. Bob Dole’s 13-point advantage in the Republican primary in 1996 by earning a majority of the votes, according to predictions.
Trump’s historic win comes as he seeks to become the first former president since Grover Cleveland in the 1890s to return to office after losing re-election to a second consecutive term. His record-breaking performance in Iowa indicates a lack of decisive demand for an alternative candidate as the focus shifts to the upcoming New Hampshire primary.
In a closely watched battle for second place, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outpaced former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
However, DeSantis’s distant finish may not necessarily translate into momentum for the next leg of the race. Despite the competition, Trump called for unity in his address to supporters in Des Moines, emphasizing the need for the country to come together, irrespective of political affiliations.
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, initially a Trump defender advocating for new leadership, suspended his campaign after finishing in fourth place, endorsing Trump in the process.
Trump’s Legal Distraction
While DeSantis and Haley have not signaled intentions to drop out, their standings in Iowa are unlikely to reshape the dynamics of the race immediately.
Haley, claiming it’s now a two-person race between her and Trump, and DeSantis, portraying himself as resilient, are determined to press forward despite their Iowa outcomes. Trump, following his victory, is set to attend his civil trial in New York on Tuesday for a defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll.
The trial revolves around allegations of sexual abuse and defamation, and Trump will subsequently head to New Hampshire. The major unknown leading up to the caucuses was the turnout, impacted by heavy snow and subzero temperatures in Iowa.
Initial estimates suggest a lower Republican caucus turnout compared to 2016, with approximately 115,000 participants. This decrease may be attributed to the challenging weather conditions, limiting the number of caucus goers willing to brave the icy roads and frigid temperatures.
or a specific category with our 
Comments are closed.