The latest news and updates on the Iowa caucuses:
- Former President Donald Trump easily won Iowa’s Republican caucuses, NBC News projects, outpacing his nearest competitors to take a big first step toward a 2024 rematch with President Joe Biden.
- Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis finished second, NBC News projects, followed by former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
- Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy announced he was ending his presidential campaign and endorsing Trump after finishing fourth.
- The campaigns and their supporters battled subzero temperatures. The National Weather Service is forecasted life-threatening cold conditions across Iowa, with wind chill values dropping as low as minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Haley appears to win one Iowa county — by just one vote
Haley appears to have eked out a win in one of Iowa's 99 counties — by just one vote.
In Johnson County — the home of Iowa City and the liberal University of Iowa campus — Haley led Trump 1,271 to 1,270, with all of the county's precincts reporting.
Haley's success in the county could be due in part to the fact that Iowa allows same-day party registration for voters. As a result, Democrats and independent voters have the opportunity to register as Republicans and vote in the party's caucuses.
Haley speaks to supporters, congratulates Trump
Haley addressed her supporters shortly after NBC News projected her third-place finish. She said she was grateful for her time with Iowans and congratulated Trump on his projected win.
But she also took the time to draw contrasts between her campaign and the campaigns of Biden and Trump, arguing that the two parties' front-runners have more in common than voters think. She pointed to Americans not wanting a 2020 rematch, as well as Trump's and Biden's ages, and she argued that both men were consumed by the past.
“We deserve a new direction under new conservative leadership," Haley said.
Haley said her campaign is the “last best hope” of stopping the Trump-Biden “nightmare."
NBC News entrance poll: Late deciders break for DeSantis
Two in 10 Iowa Republican caucusgoers waited until the last few days to decide whom to support, according to NBC News entrance poll results. The top choice among the late deciders: DeSantis.
About one-third of caucusgoers (34%) who decided which candidate they would support in the last few days voted for DeSantis, followed by Haley (29%) and Trump (27%).
DeSantis performed well among caucusgoers who said the most important issue facing the country is abortion (51%). Among DeSantis voters, 73% said they favor a federal law banning abortion nationwide — higher than among any other candidate’s supporters. He also secured 35% of voters ages 17-29, 34% of those who said the candidate quality that mattered most is someone who shares their values, and 28% of those who identify as very conservative.
Trump to exceed 50% in Iowa, NBC News projects
Trump will exceed 50% of the vote in Iowa, NBC News projects. He's set to win the state by a historic margin.
NBC News projects Ron DeSantis comes in second in Iowa
DeSantis secured a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, NBC News projects, coming in ahead of Haley, who will finish third.
Vivek Ramaswamy is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is set to suspend his 2024 presidential bid tonight, according to his campaign, dropping out of the race after a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucuses.
Ramaswamy, 38, was not well known when he entered the race in February in his first run for political office. But he quickly broke through with Republican voters in a campaign that aligned with Trump in both tone and policy substance, as he positioned himself as an heir to the MAGA movement.
Trump addresses supporters
Trump delivered victory remarks to supporters in Des Moines after he was projected as the winner of the Iowa caucuses.
The former president congratulated his Republican rivals, saying DeSantis and Haley had a "good time together," adding that he thought they both did very well. He also congratulated Ramaswamy, saying he did "a hell of a job."
Trump also thanked his wife, Melania, and honored her mother, who died this month.
The former president praised North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, saying he hoped he could call on Burgum to be a "very important" part of the administration. Burgum suspended his presidential campaign in December and endorsed Trump yesterday.
Later in his remarks, Trump railed against immigrants crossing the southern border, saying terrorists are coming into the U.S. He also slammed Biden's policies and briefly touched on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, noting that he gets along with Putin and arguing that Ukraine would not have been attacked if he were president.
DeSantis campaign official: He has 'earned his ticket out of Iowa'
A senior official with the DeSantis campaign said tonight that it's in the race for the long haul.
“They threw everything at Ron DeSantis. They couldn’t kill him. He is not only still standing, but he’s now earned his ticket out of Iowa," the official said. “This is going to be a long battle ahead, but that is what this campaign is built for. The stakes are too high for this nation, and we will not back down.”
DeSantis is vying with Haley for a distant second place in the Iowa caucuses behind Trump.
DeSantis delivered brief, forceful remarks tonight at his caucus night watch party.
“They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us,” he said.
DeSantis was later joined on stage by his wife Casey and some of his most prominent supporters, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Trump offers praise for Burgum
Trump says he hopes to be able to call on North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be a “very important” piece of his administration.
That puts yesterday’s endorsement by Burgum — who as a GOP presidential candidate said he wouldn’t work with Trump — in new context.
Trump delivers victory speech in Iowa
Folks who haven’t watched Trump speak recently are getting a totally different tone in his victory speech tonight from what you hear at a typical rally/campaign event. Magnanimous and joking, saying nice things about his opponents.