[2024 US Election] Trump Dominates First Republican Primary... Proving Himself the Front-runner

Former U.S. President Donald Trump secured an overwhelming first place by garnering support from more than half of the voters in the Iowa caucus, the first Republican presidential primary held on the 15th (local time).

According to CNN, as of 11:37 PM, Trump received 51% of the votes, achieving a majority. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came in second with 21.2%. Following him were former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley with 19.1%, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy with 7.7%, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson with 0.2%.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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Major media outlets such as CNN and the Associated Press confirmed Trump’s victory just 30 minutes after the caucus began. The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Even Republican supporters with college education near Des Moines and Iowa City, where Haley was expected to have strong support, backed Trump." The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated, "Trump won by a landslide, securing over 50% of the vote," and added, "Despite numerous legal issues, he demonstrated dominance among the candidates."

After his victory was confirmed, Trump said, "Now is the time for everyone to come together," emphasizing, "Whether Republican or Democrat, progressive or conservative, we must unite." He also declared, "We put America First and will Make America Great Again (MAGA)."

Ramaswamy, who placed fourth, announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Trump.

The Iowa caucus marks the starting point of the Republican primary. Although the majority of the population is white and the number of delegates is not large, it serves as a barometer of public sentiment.

The first primary in New Hampshire will be held on the 23rd. In New Hampshire, support for former Ambassador Haley is high, centered around the anti-Trump faction within the Republican Party. Although Trump achieved a landslide victory in Iowa, the situation could reverse in New Hampshire. After this caucus, Haley, who had single-digit support when she first entered the race, gained momentum by placing third and stated, "Looking at the support in New Hampshire and South Carolina, the Republican primary has turned into a two-person race."

Meanwhile, the biggest variable in this Iowa caucus was the weather. Extreme cold with wind chills dropping below minus 30°C combined with heavy snowfall. The election outcome depended on how many loyal supporters braved the severe cold to cast their votes. The WSJ reported that out of approximately 752,000 Republican voters, about 108,000, or 14.4%, participated in the vote.

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