--- title: Bernie Sanders: Iowa Caucus Recount Is Still a Consideration description: Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is still considering whether to ask for a recount of votes from the Iowa caucuses canonical: https://time.com/4204365/iowa-caucus-bernie-sanders-recount/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-02T16:59:58.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:42:25.907Z article:section: Politics og:title: Bernie Sanders 'Still Assessing' Whether to Ask for a Recount in Iowa og:description: "We don’t know enough to say anything about it" og:url: https://time.com/4204365/iowa-caucus-bernie-sanders-recount/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta9877faa057cbba7/69887bcf2dce0133529e7a08/bernie-sanders2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5760 og:image:height: 3240 og:image:alt: bernie-sanders og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Bernie Sanders 'Still Assessing' Whether to Ask for a Recount in Iowa twitter:description: "We don’t know enough to say anything about it" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta9877faa057cbba7/69887bcf2dce0133529e7a08/bernie-sanders2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Bernie Sanders 'Still Assessing' Whether to Ask for a Recount in Iowa > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=677def08-21b2-4cf2-9aa3-341c8c0f0e3b&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: TIME Raw: Hillary Clinton Celebrate A Win In Iowa [Watch (HLS stream): TIME Raw: Hillary Clinton Celebrate A Win In Iowa](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/mzpgaqca.m3u8) (0:43)  _Published 2016-02-02_  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Feb 2, 2016 4:59 PM UTC  Bernie Sanders speaks during his Caucus night event at the at the Holiday Inn on Feb. 1, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Bernie Sanders speaks during his Caucus night event at the at the Holiday Inn on Feb. 1, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Joshua Lott—Getty Images  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Feb 2, 2016 4:59 PM UTC Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is still [considering whether to ask for a recount](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US%5F2016%5FELECTION%5FTHE%5FLATEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) of votes from the Iowa caucuses, a historically close contest that [ended in Hillary Clinton’s favor](http://time.com/4203862/iowa-caucuses-hillary-clinton-win/). A Sanders spokesperson said the campaign is “still assessing” whether to request a recount, according to[ the Associated Press](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US%5F2016%5FELECTION%5FTHE%5FLATEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT). When Sanders was asked about a potential recount on MSNBC early Tuesday morning, the Senator from Vermont [said it was still too soon to discuss](http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/will-sanders-contest-the-iowa-results-614133315826). “Honestly, we just got off the plane and we don’t know enough to say anything about it,” Sanders said. Clinton won 49.9% of votes, while Sanders won 49.6%. In some precincts, [Democrats flipped a coin](http://time.com/4204049/iowa-caucus-coin-toss-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/) to break a tie and determine a winner.  Iowa Caucus results 2016 In a statement, Clinton’s camp downplayed the utility of a recount. “Hillary Clinton has won the Iowa Caucus. After thorough reporting – and analysis – of results, there is no uncertainty and Secretary Clinton has clearly won the most national and state delegates. Statistically, there is no outstanding information that could change the results and no way that Senator Sanders can overcome Secretary Clinton’s advantage,” Clinton spokesman [Matt Paul said in a statement](http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/will-sanders-contest-the-iowa-results-614133315826) early Tuesday morning. Republican candidate Rick Santorum won the Iowa caucuses in 2012 [after a final count](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/report-santorum-finished-34-votes-ahead-of-romney-in-new-iowa-tally-votes-from-8-precincts-missing/2012/01/19/gIQAJGuRAQ%5Fstory.html)—completed more than two weeks after caucus voting—revealed that he had defeated eventual party nominee Mitt Romney. The preliminary results announced just after the caucuses originally declared Romney the winner. ## Transcript It is great to be here with all of you and I am so thrilled that I'm coming to New Hampshire after winning Iowa. [ APPLAUSE ] I could tell you, I I've won and I've lost there, it's a lot better to win. So New Hampshire come with me this week [ APPLAUSE ] Make this journey with me [ APPLAUSE ] Stand up for me, fight for me and when we win I will stand up and fight for you every single day. Thank you and God bless you. 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