--- description: Texas Senator Ted Cruz won the Iowa Republican caucuses Monday night, cementing his status as the top rival to Donald Trump title: Ted Cruz Wins Iowa Caucuses, as Democratic Race Too Close to Call image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltedb696bcf6998b94/69887b9a5f570fe361b1f6f5/timepol-iowa-february-1-keyssar-ted-cruz-05.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2016 Election](/tag/2016-election/) ## 2016 Election Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Ted Cruz Wins Iowa Caucuses, as Democratic Race Too Close to Call by [Zeke J Miller / Des Moines](/author/zeke-j-miller/), [Alex Altman / Des Moines](/author/alex-altman/) and [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/) Updated: Dec 13, 2023 7:21 PM CUTPublished: Feb 1, 2016 9:13 PM CUT  Ted Cruz greets supporters at his rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016. Ted Cruz greets supporters at his rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016.Natalie Keyssar for TIME by [Zeke J Miller / Des Moines](/author/zeke-j-miller/), [Alex Altman / Des Moines](/author/alex-altman/) and [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/) Updated: Dec 13, 2023 7:21 PM CUTPublished: Feb 1, 2016 9:13 PM CUT Texas Senator Ted Cruz won [the Iowa Republican caucuses](http://time.com/4198842/iowa-caucuses-answers/?xid=homepage "undefined") Monday night, cementing his status as the conservative front-runner and top rival to Donald Trump in the first contest of the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic race was locked in “a virtual tie” early Tuesday. Tens of thousands of Iowans cast the first votes of 2016, with reports of record turnout on the Republican side and high turnout in the Democratic race. The contest was set to [winnow a wide and fractured Republican field](http://time.com/4201716/iowa-caucuses-donald-trump-ted-cruz/?xid=homepage "undefined") and provide a key test in [the Democratic race between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.](http://time.com/4201806/hillary-clinton-martin-omalley-bernie-sanders-iowa/?xid=homepage "undefined") With about 99% of precincts reporting in the Republican race, Ted Cruz had 28% of the vote, compared with 24% for Trump. “The Republican nominee and the next President of the United States will not be chosen by the media,” Cruz, who is running as a proud scourge of GOP leaders, told cheering supporters in Des Moines. “Will not be chosen by the Washington establishment. Will not be chosen by the lobbyists.” “Whatever Washington says, they cannot keep the people down,” Cruz added. “Courageous conservatives said, ‘yes we can.'” What appeared to be huge turnout in the Republican race should have benefited Trump, whose campaign hoped high turnout would mean the billionaire businessman was drawing first-time caucus-goers to the process. But it didn’t turn out that way. “We never thought Cruz could do this well at this turnout,” an official with a rival campaign said. [Addressing supporters in West Des Moines](http://time.com/4203728/donald-trump-iowa-loser/ "undefined"), Trump congratulated Cruz and thanked the people of Iowa. “We love you. We thank you. We will be back, many, many times. In fact, I might come here and buy a farm,” Trump said. And he looked forward to the next contest, where he continues to lead in the polls: “On to New Hampshire. So long, everybody.” Marco Rubio was close behind Trump in third place with 23%, in line with where his campaign had set expectations after a late surge, but closer to the front of the pack than many had expected. And as he looks to consolidate establishment support after the race moves past Iowa, news broke that popular South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, whose state votes later this month, [will endorse Rubio](http://time.com/4203605/iowa-caucus-marco-rubio-tim-scott-south-carolina/?xid=homepage "undefined"). Addressing enthusiastic supporters in Des Moines, Rubio gave what amounted to a victory speech. “So this is the moment they said would never happen,” Rubio said. “The people of this state have sent a clear message. After seven years of Barack Obama, we aren’t waiting any longer.” Rubio used the speech, broadcast live nationwide, to make a clear argument that he is the most electable Republican. “When I am our nominee, we will unite our party, we will grow our party, and we will defeat Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders,” he said. ### See Pictures From a Week of Campaigning in Iowa  Ted Cruz greets supporters at his rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Rubio walks off his bus towards the pub. Marco Rubio spoke to supporters at a campaign rally at the Wellman's Pub and Rooftop in Des Moines Iowa on Wednesday evening, January 27th 2016\. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Hillary Clinton campaigns with Bill Clinton in Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 29, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Bernie Sanders addressed students at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday morning, January 28th 2016\. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally and concert in Iowa City, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Donald Trump held a benefit rally/campaign rally for the Wounded Warriors, a charity organization for Veterans, at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday morning, January 28th 2016\. The event was timed to coincide with the Republican debates on Fox which he declined to attend. His event was attended by supporters, veterans and donors, as well as fellow candidates Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to supporters at a campaign town hall in Pella, Iowa, on Jan. 29. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Ben Carson speaks to supporters in Iowa City, Iowa, on Jan. 29. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet, campaign at the Crossroads shooting range in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Martin O'Malley walks during a canvas launch at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 31. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 29, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio appeared at a caucus event with his family on Feb. 1, 2016, at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Donald Trump greets supporters at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 26, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME With about 94% of precincts reporting in the Democratic race, Clinton was clinging to a tiny lead over Sanders, with 49.9% of the vote to 49.5% for Sanders. Taking the stage to address supporters in Des Moines even though the race hadn’t been called, Clinton pressed her argument that she is the most qualified candidate to continue President Obama’s legacy. “I am a progressive who gets things done for people,” she said. “I am honored to stand in a long line of American reformers who make up our minds that the status quo is not good enough, that standing still is not an option.” “When it is all said and done, we have to be united against a Republican vision and candidates who would drive us apart and divide us,” she added. Sanders took the stage to raucous supporters a few minutes later. “Tonight while the results are still not known, it looks like we are in a virtual tie,” Sanders said. “The people of Iowa have sent a profound message to the political establishment.” The results quickly narrowed the race on both sides. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the 2008 Iowa caucus winner who never contended seriously this time, dropped out before Cruz was declared the victor. “I am officially suspending my campaign,” he said on Twitter. “Thank you for all your loyal support.” And former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, whose Democratic campaign had been mired in single digits and did not gain any traction in Iowa, suspended his campaign in an email to supporters. [Late polling](http://time.com/4202291/iowa-caucus-polls-donald-trump-bernie-sanders-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton/?xid=homepage "undefined") over the weekend and on Monday had showed Trump leading Cruz in the Republican race, while Clinton and Sanders were locked in a close fight. — _With additional reporting by Tessa Berenson / Urbandale, Iowa; Philip Elliott / West Des Moines; and Sam Frizell / Des Moines_ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4203203/iowa-caucus-results-2016-donald-trump-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4203203/iowa-caucus-results-2016-donald-trump-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/"},"headline":"Ted Cruz Wins Iowa Caucuses, as Democratic Race Too Close to Call","datePublished":"2016-02-01T21:13:27.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T19:21:06.000Z","description":"A big win for Cruz going into the New Hampshire primary","url":"https://time.com/4203203/iowa-caucus-results-2016-donald-trump-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/","keywords":["2016 Election","Hillary Clinton","2016 Election topic","Iowa","ted cruz"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltedb696bcf6998b94/69887b9a5f570fe361b1f6f5/timepol-iowa-february-1-keyssar-ted-cruz-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Zeke J Miller / Des Moines"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Alex Altman / Des Moines"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Charlotte Alter","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltedb696bcf6998b94/69887b9a5f570fe361b1f6f5/timepol-iowa-february-1-keyssar-ted-cruz-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIMEPOL Iowa Ted Cruz","caption":"Ted Cruz held a rally at the Elwell Family Food Centera in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday Sunday night, January 31rst. 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