The first Republican nominating contest of the 2024 presidential cycle came and went Monday night, with the race being called before anyone even showed up to former President Donald Trump’s watch party.
While first place isn’t usually the only finish that campaigns and media watch for, the small field and huge margin of victory for Trump could prove pivotal before next week’s contest in New Hampshire.
Trump stomped to victory, winning over 51% of caucusgoers and 20 delegates Monday night. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was a distant second at 21.2% and picked up eight delegates, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley couldn’t sustain her recent momentum, finishing just behind DeSantis with 19.1% and seven delegates.
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Here is the winner and the losers from the 2024 Iowa Republican caucuses.
Winner
Donald Trump
Trump was the uncontested winner of the Iowa caucuses. His 30-point victory over DeSantis was the highest ever in Iowa, beating the record of 13 points set by Bob Dole in 1988. The blowout win confirmed public polling showing the former president as the clear front-runner and could take the wind out of his competitors’ sails.
Monday’s victory came after DeSantis and Haley spent far more time and money in Iowa than Trump, including DeSantis visiting all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State.
Haley’s much-chronicled momentum wasn’t enough to vault her past third place despite her consistent messaging that the contest had devolved into a two-person race between her and Trump. Haley’s Americans for Prosperity endorsement and upward polling trend didn’t cut into Trump’s massive lead, as he still pulled a majority of Iowa Republican support.
Losers
Ron DeSantis
DeSantis has borne the brunt of super PAC drama, spending problems, and Trump’s ire since launching his campaign in the spring. On Monday, he rose above his expected third-place finish but only collected 21.2% of caucusgoers. The most recent Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed DeSantis in third, surpassed by Haley, with just 16%.
His campaign has noted in recent weeks the massive amount of negative independent expenditures aimed at the Florida governor, which have amounted to more than $40 million to stifle his bid.
The governor’s second-place finish will help sustain his campaign to head to New Hampshire, as a loss to Haley might have cemented the narrative DeSantis has been in a freefall since he announced his challenge to Trump.
DeSantis tried to lift the mood Monday night, saying, “We got our ticket punched out of Iowa!” Reporters at the DeSantis watch party noted it felt like a victory party.
Nikki Haley
Haley took third in the caucuses, falling short of the second-place finish predicted by the latest Iowa poll. She saw 19.1% in the contest, just 2 points behind DeSantis. Despite her proximity to the Florida governor, she fell victim to the expectations that come with significant momentum and prominent endorsements.
Haley’s highest-profile endorser, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), set the expectation recently that she would finish second, which may work against her now that she hasn’t. “We know Trump is going to win the caucus in Iowa,” Sununu said during a campaign event with Haley. “But again, Nikki coming in second place when nobody thought it could happen. That’s going to happen and give her even more momentum.”
Falling short of this marker, with Sununu’s backing and the support of Americans for Prosperity Action’s grassroots network, may sow doubt in Haley’s ability to challenge Trump, given that DeSantis still stands in her way.
Haley also faced criticism for a remark made after her watch party, in which she said it was now “a two-person race.” This left reporters puzzled since Haley finished in third.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Former biotech CEO Vivek Ramaswamy had been promising a surprise result in the caucuses, receiving more than the 8% he was predicted to get. However, Ramaswamy saw just 7.7%, coming in fourth. Even with Ramaswamy’s hundreds of campaign events in the state, more than any of his opponents, he didn’t break into double digits.
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When it became obvious to Ramaswamy that he wouldn’t be defying the odds on caucus night, he abruptly suspended his campaign. He ended his bid despite having told a reporter, “I’m gonna guarantee to stay in this race through November of this year when we win the election, through January of next year when I’m inaugurated as your next president, through January of 2033 when we leave that White House after two full terms.”
After suspending his campaign, Ramaswamy endorsed Trump, who welcomed his support. With this endorsement, Ramaswamy’s supporters could be likely to join Trump in the next nominating contest.
