Live Coverage of Iowa 2024

Updating as information presents itself. All time central. Updates will be listed newest to oldest.

---

10:30 — Of the 40 delegates 38 are reportedly bound with Trump taking 20, DeSantis taking 8, Haley 7. Remember, the magic number 1,215 to cinch the nomination. This is what I mean when I say it’s a delegate race. I will deep dive, recap, and set the table for NH and SC on tomorrow’s program.

10:22 — Ramaswamy is out. He endorses Trump, not shocking, it’s well known he was the stalking horse.

10:20 — DeSantis is taking second. He survives to advance to the next round. Word is he’s heading to South Carolina next.

9:45 — NYT needle holding DeSantis in second:

9:20 — DeSantis is in second, Haley in third, Ramaswamy in … 3rd? DeSantis is mildly over-performing previous polling. If DeSantis doesn’t maintain second I don’t see a path forward for him. AN IMPORTANT NOTE — DeSantis isn’t out yet. Iowa awards delegates proportionally, it is not a winner-take-all state. This is a reason why the early call was roundly criticized.

8:50 — Alright, so 37% in and Trump is sitting at 51% to DeSantis 20%. DeSantis is pulling away from Haley as she underperforms in rural areas but not by a lot just yet. DeSantis will want to take Trump under 50% in order for a clearer path forward. Not yet halfway there yet int tabulating votes.

8:44 — Hoo boy, DeSantis with a Trump-esque statement:

I mean, he’s not wrong. As a friend said, it’s not a major achievement to call a caucus that will likely go for Trump, but it’s stupidly embarrassing to do it right literally was voting kicks off.

8:40 — NBC says that Iowa turnout is projected at 130k, a lot less than the record turnout in 2016 of 187k. Could be the snow, but cold and snow aren’t that unusual to Iowans.

8:30 — Entrance polling reveals Haley is indeed taking the urban vote and trailing in rural areas. Remember — a NBC/Des Moines Register poll revealed that 43% of Haley voters would go for Biden over Trump should she lose the primary. She’s not pulling non-Trump voters, she’s pulling Democrats.

8:15 — About an hour ago Fox and other networks called the primary for Trump — right as people began voting, which seems shady and irresponsible. People were mad when this happened in 2020, too, and it remains just as questionable.

I suspect Trump will pull first but the question is by how much. The last big take in Iowa was 1988 with Bob Dole at +13. Earlier they floated grabbing 50% of the vote which they’ve started downplaying tonight.

Haley is picking up college counties and the urban vote as predicted. Trump and DeSantis are head-to-head with evangelicals. Ramaswamy is … there. So far no counties.

More to come.

---