Trump wins Iowa’s leadoff caucuses

A member of the campaign on stage making the final adjustments on the teleprompter before the appearance of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

A member of the campaign on stage making the final adjustments on the teleprompter before the appearance of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus site at Horizon Events Center, in Clive, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus site at Horizon Events Center, in Clive, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. AP PHOTO/ANDREW HARNIK

By The Associated Press

Published: 01-15-2024 10:11 PM

Donald Trump has won Iowa’s leadoff presidential caucuses.

The former president’s victory on Monday night gives him a strong start in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as the contest moves to New Hampshire.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are vying for a second-place finish in Iowa that would give them at least some momentum heading into future races.

A silent victory party

Typically, attendees at political victory parties assemble early to watch the results come in and erupt in cheers when their candidate wins.

But the call declaring Trump the winner of Iowa’s caucuses came so early that the former president wasn’t on site yet and his invited guests hadn’t yet arrived. So round cocktail tables draped with black tablecloths stood empty and bottles of wine and beer sat on ice awaiting the start of the party.

Trump is expected to speak later Monday night at the Iowa Events Center venue, flanked by many American flags.