Iowa Republicans delivered a decisive victory to former President Donald Trump on Monday night, braving the frigid weather to participate in the caucuses.
Trump won with an outright majority, winning 51.1% of the vote statewide. Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, took second with 21.2%, proving predictions that placed him behind Nikki Haley in the polls wrong. Haley, former governor of South Carolina and U.N. ambassador, had a disappointing showing compared to polling predictions that placed her in second, with only 19.1%. All vote percentages were calculated as of 11:59 p.m.
The campaign trail has been a flurry of insults, name-calling and accusations thrown between candidates, but Iowa Republicans as observed by S&B reporters on caucus night may not be as divided as candidates. Many of the caucus goers interviewed indicated they would support whichever candidate ultimately wins the nomination.
“I think any of the Republicans would make a good president,” Wayne Ross, 71, said, indicating his desire for a president with strong conservative values. He said despite voting for DeSantis in the caucus, he would vote for Trump if he ends up as the nominee.
“I see our country going away from conservative values,” he said. “I don’t know where our country’s headed, but [it’s] not where I’d like to see it go. That’s why we vote for conservative people as a Republican,” he added.
At the Montezuma caucus, despite voting for Trump, Craig McKee spoke in support of both Nikki Haley and DeSantis in lieu of an official campaign representative, saying that any of the three candidates would be an improvement to the current administration.
“Of the old ‘Reaganesque’ school, we do not speak ill of other Republicans,” McKee said, explaining why he decided to speak on behalf of the two other candidates.
McKee said that although he thinks Haley does not yet have the experience for the presidency, she has earned his respect.
“[Her] heart is in the right, organizationally,” he said. “I would vote for her if she made the nominee.”
In support of DeSantis, McKee said that he enjoyed attending a campaign event in Des Moines in July.
“It was a real pleasure listening to him speak. He could do it very well. I would like to see DeSantis in the administration,” McKee said.
“I think the field of Republican candidates is outstanding this year,” Sally May of Brooklyn said, who also cast her ballot for Trump. “I don’t think we can go wrong with any of our Republican candidates,” she added.
Sheri Sharer, who acted as Trump’s caucus captain in Montezuma, united Republicans behind Trump by appealing to their shared disapproval of Biden. Trump ultimately won 61% of the vote in Montezuma.
“The economy is awful,” she said of the Biden administration. Sharer caucused for the first time on Monday, saying, “The country needs it.”
In Grinnell, Eugene Heywood, 68, said that he supports Trump because of alleged corruption among the Democrats.
“Joe Biden is a disgrace. It’s that simple,” he said.
Jacki Bolen, former mayor of Montezuma and candidate for Poweshiek County supervisor, spoke on behalf of Vivek Ramaswamy but said that she also likes Trump.
Bolen said that the main difference between candidates is not in their policies, but simply in how they conduct themselves. Ultimately though, Bolen said that the differences are not substantial enough to push Republican voters away from the Republican Party’s nominee even if it is not their preferred choice.
While Trump’s large win and Haley’s unanticipated third-place finish will not seal their fates, precedent has shown the results can dramatically shift the campaigns’ momentum. This was the case in 2008 when Barack Obama was catapulted to the Democratic nomination by winning Iowa, as well as in 2000 when George W. Bush’s win solidified his path to beating out John McCain as the Republican nominee.
So while Iowa controls only 1.6% of the total delegates that will be allocated at the Republican National Conventional, tonight’s results are likely to be a launching pad for donations, media coverage and endorsements heading into the New Hampshire primaries on Jan. 23.
Contributed reporting from Sam Bates, Eliza Cline, Eleanor Corbin, Sarah Evans and Nick El Hajj.
