US Election 2024: Trump secures victory in Iowa
Courtesy: AFP via Getty Images
Donald Trump has claimed a decisive victory in Iowa, securing his third win in the state, surpassing Vice President Kamala Harris.
With 37 counties reporting, Trump led Harris 55% to 43%, as confirmed by the Associated Press.
Despite a recent Des Moines Register Iowa Poll showing Harris with a narrow lead, Trump’s overwhelming performance showed no signs of a tight race.
The poll had projected a 3-point lead for Harris, reviving interest in Iowa's results, especially after neither candidate campaigned in the state.
Trump’s camp remained confident due to strong early voting and impressive Republican turnout, with Iowa Republicans also leading in voter registration.
However, Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann dismissed the poll's credibility, celebrating the party's victory with a statement, “Ann Selzer’s wrong! The Des Moines Register’s wrong! Donald Trump just won Iowa!”
The Iowa Poll, a trusted election indicator, had consistently predicted accurate results since 2008, though it had missed in 2004.
Trump had previously carried Iowa by significant margins in 2016 and 2020, winning by 9.4 points over Hillary Clinton and 8.2 points over Joe Biden.
Though Iowa has only six Electoral College votes, its significance remained in play during this election cycle. With a major focus on battleground states, both Trump and Harris had turned their attention to Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, and other states with narrow margins.
Despite national campaigns focusing on swing states, Kaufmann expressed confidence in Iowa's GOP, emphasizing that local efforts would ensure another Republican victory in the state.
Democratic momentum in Iowa grew when President Biden endorsed Harris as his successor. While initial polls showed Trump with a solid lead when Biden was expected to run again, Harris’s entry narrowed the gap considerably.
As the race concluded, Iowa Democrats, led by Party Chair Rita Hart, worked hard to mobilize voter turnout and educate the public on the importance of the election and their candidate's positions.