Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa Caucus, the first contest of the 2024 election and the months-long Primary process used to determine party nominees on Monday, January 15.
Six days later, Florida Governor Ron Desantis announced that he was suspending his campaign for president and endorsing Trump for president.
The Republican Caucus is the first step in determining the 2024 G.O.P nominee while the Democratic Caucus is a meeting to select delegates for county party conventions in March. Unlike the primaries of states like New Hampshire and South Carolina work like typical elections; caucuses are local meetings where attendees must gather at a certain place at a certain time. Usually, caucuses take place in school gymnasiums, community centers and church basements.
The Iowa Caucus is generally not widely known among the Rancocas Valley student body but has gotten less attention this year due to its uncompetitiveness.
“This is the first time hearing it now,” said sophomore Jewel Soo.
Trump won the Caucus with 51% of the vote and 28.9 point margin of victory over second place finisher Florida Ron Desantis.Desantis received 21.2% of the vote. Former South Carolina Governor and UN ambassador during the Trump administration Nikki Haley finished in 3rd place with 21.2% of vote. Trump won every single county in Iowa except Johnson County, which Nikki Haley won by one vote. Johnson County is where the University of Iowa is.
“We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon,”said Trump at his campaign watch party.
Despite a third place finish in Iowa, Haley still has high hopes for New Hampshire, which is the next state on the primary calendar. Many polls show a close race between her and Trump Hampshire including one by American Research group where they are tied.
“Our campaign is the last best hope of stopping the Trump-Biden nightmare,” said Haley in a speech to supporters at her final Iowa event.
With Desantis dropping out of the race, Haley is the only contender Trump faces for the republican nomination.
