Donald Trump Wins Republican Caucuses in Iowa, Securing Party's First 2024 Victory

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in New Hampshire on Aug. 8, 2023.Photo:JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty

Donald Trumpsecured the first win of the election year in Iowa on Monday, signaling a strong start in his third bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

TheAssociated Presscalled the caucuses for Trump just 31 minutes after they began. With 91% of ballots counted, the AP called second place for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump received 51% of the vote, far ahead of DeSantis' 21.3%, reports the AP. Nikki Haley, who served as Trump’s first ambassador to the U.N,, received 19.1% of the vote.

Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis participated in a Republican presidential debate in Des Moines on Wednesday, battling severe weather in their final days of campaigning before the caucuses.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

The winner of the Iowa caucuses traditionally enjoys a moment in the spotlight right as the election year heats up, and has better chances of securing the funding required to stay in the race through primary season.

New Hampshire is up next on the Republican calendar, hosting a primary election on Jan. 23 that will determine how its 22 delegates are divided between the candidates. In New Hampshire, Trump’s biggest threat appears to be Haley, with the other candidates polling far behind in the single digits.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

Whichever Republican candidate wins at least 1,234 delegates over the next five months will be declared the GOP nominee during the Republican National Convention in July.

source: people.com