Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) campaign is calling foul on the results of the Iowa caucuses, accusing the media of “election interference” after declaring an early victory for former President Donald Trump.
The contest in Iowa, the first nominating convention of the 2024 cycle, was called in Trump’s favor just 31 minutes after the caucuses began. Although that result was largely expected by election forecasters, DeSantis’s campaign criticized news outlets for calling the race, arguing it disenfranchised several voters who had not yet had the chance to cast their ballots.
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“It is absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote,” Andrew Romeo, communications director for the DeSantis campaign, said in a statement. “The media is in the tank for Trump, and this is the most egregious example yet.”
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Trump’s early victory in Iowa now shifts the race to the sprint for second place, with DeSantis and Nikki Haley fighting neck and neck to be the runner-up. The stakes are high for both candidates, as a second-place finish could boost their campaigns as they seek to close the gap between themselves and Trump.
It’s not yet clear how soon voters will know the remainder of the results of the Iowa caucuses. Votes are continuously collected, counted, and announced as the night goes on, with party leaders expected to report results as they come in.