Hillary Clinton has been declared the winner of the Iowa Democratic caucuses.

Clinton wins the Democratic caucuses in Iowa, beating back a strong challenge from Bernie Sanders to claim the first victory in the 2016 race for president, according to final results from the Iowa Democratic Party.

The final decision in Iowa came several hours after the caucusing ended late Monday-early Tuesday.

The former secretary of state, senator from New York and first lady edged past the Vermont senator in a race the Iowa Democratic Party called the closest in its caucus history.

The Iowa Democratic Party said Tuesday that it would not do any recount of the close results, and a spokesman for the Sanders campaign said it does not intend to challenge the results of the caucuses.

The basics:

  • Sen. Ted Cruz wins the Iowa Republican Caucus, with Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio coming in a tight second and third.
  • Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley suspended his presidential campaign tonight.
  • Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee suspended his presidential campaign tonight.

THE LATEST

(All times in Central Standard Time)

Current caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 1,624 of 1,681 precincts: 97 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 50 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 50 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 1,676 of 1,681 precincts: 99 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 28 percent
    • Donald Trump: 24 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 23 percent
    • Ben Carson: 9 percent
    • Rand Paul: 5 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 3 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 2 percent
    • Chris Christie: 2 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent
Data curated by InsideGov

11:05 p.m.

However Iowa's Democratic caucuses turn out, Hillary Clinton is assured of at least half of the state's pledged delegates.

The Associated Press has awarded 43 of the 44 pledged delegates at stake. Clinton currently leads Bernie Sanders, 22 to 21.

Her delegate lead so far is due to a stronger performance in a congressional district in the southwestern part of the state.

The remaining delegate to be awarded will go to the winner of Iowa.

Sanders says he and Clinton are in 'virtual tie" in the Monday night caucuses.

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10:55 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says it looks like he and Hillary Clinton are in a "virtual tie" for first place in the Iowa's Democratic caucuses.

The Vermont senator is congratulating his chief rival for waging a "very vigorous campaign" in the first contest of the 2016 election.

Sanders — who calls himself a democratic socialist — says he came to Iowa nine months ago with no money, name recognition or political organization. He says he took on "the most powerful political organization in the United States of America" — namely the Clinton family.

Sanders says the people of Iowa have sent a profound message — that it's too late for what he calls "establishment politics" in the United States.

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10:50 p.m.

Voter turnout for the Iowa Republican caucuses was up when compared with the count four years ago.

There were more than 180,000 people at Monday's GOP caucuses. That's up from about 121,000 in 2012.

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10:40 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says she's excited for the campaign debate ahead with Bernie Sanders now that they're the only two candidates left in the Democratic presidential primary.

It's too close to call right now in Monday night's Iowa caucuses. But there's already been a big development: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has dropped out of the race.

Clinton tells supporters that she's breathing a big sigh of relief. She says Democrats have a clear idea about what their campaign stands for and what's best for the country.

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10:25 p.m.

Democrat Martin O'Malley is pulling out of the presidential race after the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, but says the party must "hold strong" behind the eventual nominee.

The former Maryland governor says Democrats must stick to their beliefs, including a responsibility to advance the common good.

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10:02 p.m.

Ted Cruz tells The Associated Press that his victory in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses is a victory for the grassroots, and he says his triumph is part of a larger movement of conservatives against what he calls the "Washington cartel."

Cruz says his win "was a victory for courageous conservatives in Iowa and all around the country."

The first-term Texas senator says that from "Day One, we built our campaign as a movement for Americans to organize and rally to band together against the disaster of the Washington cartel."

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10 p.m.

Donald Trump says he's honored by what he's calling his second-place finish in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses.

Trump is speaking at an event with supporters after Ted Cruz was declared the winner of the Monday night contest _ the first of the 2016 election.

Trump says that when he started the campaign, he was advised not to compete in Iowa because he couldn't finish in the top 10. Trump says he felt he had to do it and wanted to give it a shot.

Trump is congratulating Cruz and the other candidates. He says he thinks he'll win the New Hampshire primary next week and that he will go on to be the GOP nominee and win the White House.

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9:45 p.m.

Sen. Marco Rubio's concession speech in Des Moines, Ia. sounds more like a victory speech, and he has a right to be jubilant. Rubio came in a close third in the Iowa Republican Caucus, behind Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

Rubio thanked his supporters for defying those who said he had no chance and needed to "wait his turn" before he could run.

Rubio did not take shots at his fellow Republicans, but did hit hard on Hillary Clinton, who is clinging to a tight lead against Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic caucus. Rubio said Clinton was "disqualified to be commander-in-chief" based on the ongoing investigation into her emails.

"I will be our nominee thanks to what you have done here in Iowa," Rubio told supporters.

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9:35 p.m.

Mike Huckabee suspends his Republican presidential campaign via messages to his supporters.

It's Ted Cruz on top in the leadoff Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa.

The Texas senator has edged past of Donald Trump and a crowded GOP field.

Cruz won with strong support from Iowa's influential evangelical community and conservative voters.

Cruz's victory in the first contest of the 2016 race comes just four years after he rode a tea party wave to win election to the Senate.

The race now moves to New Hampshire, where Trump has strong support among voters frustrated and angry with Washington.

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9:25 p.m.

Ted Cruz comes out on top in the leadoff Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa, pushing aside Donald Trump and emerging from the pack of candidates.

Current caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 1,412 of 1,681 precincts: 84 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 50 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 49 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 1,421 of 1,681 precincts: 85 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 28 percent
    • Donald Trump: 24 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 23 percent
    • Ben Carson: 9 percent
    • Rand Paul: 5 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 3 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 2 percent
    • Chris Christie: 2 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

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9:05 p.m.

Multiple sources now reporting former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will suspend his campaign tonight. He has generated few votes in Iowa, and did not have enough supporters at many precincts to remain viable there.

The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor never gained traction against rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Word about O'Malley's move comes from people familiar with his decision. They weren't authorized to discuss it publicly and requested anonymity.

O'Malley campaigned as a can-do chief executive who pushed through key parts of the Democratic agenda in Maryland. They included gun control, support for gay marriage and an increase in the minimum wage.

But O'Malley struggled to raise money and was polling in the single-digits for months despite campaigning actively in Iowa and New Hampshire.

_Associated Press writers Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.

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9 p.m.

Current caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 1,163 of 1,681 precincts: 69 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 51 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 49 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 1,048 of 1,681 precincts: 62 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 28 percent
    • Donald Trump: 25 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 22 percent
    • Ben Carson: 10 percent
    • Rand Paul: 4 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 3 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 2 percent
    • Chris Christie: 2 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

___

8:55 p.m.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is the top choice among very conservative caucus-goers in Iowa, while Donald Trump is No. 1 among moderates.

That's according to entrance poll interviews among those arriving at caucus sites conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

Those who say they're somewhat conservative are split between Marco Rubio and Trump.

Half of GOP caucus-goers say they prefer a candidate from outside the political establishment, while 4 in 10 say they prefer someone with political experience.

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8:45 p.m.

DEMOCRATS:

  • 1,070 of 1,681 precincts: 64 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 51 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 49 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 794 of 1,681 precincts: 47 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 29 percent
    • Donald Trump: 25 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 21 percent
    • Ben Carson: 10 percent
    • Rand Paul: 4 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 3 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 2 percent
    • Chris Christie: 1 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

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8:35 p.m.

The crowd has come alive for Marco Rubio at a concert hall that's hosting caucuses for two Iowa precincts outside Des Moines.

The Florida senator tells caucus-goers that he knows they might have come out to support other candidates in the Republican race. But he also says that he believes ``with all my heart I can unite this party.''

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8:35 p.m.

Ben Carson plans to trade the cold of Iowa for the warmer Florida for a few days.

A campaign spokesman says the Republican presidential candidate is heading home to West Palm Beach after the Iowa caucuses.

Carson plans to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday and then will head to New Hampshire.

The plan is to leave Iowa on Monday night in hopes of getting ahead of a winter storm.

"Not standing down" -- that's what spokesman Jason Osborne posted on Carson's twitter feed.
 
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8:30 p.m.

Current caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 862 of 1,681 precincts: 51 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 51 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 48 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 418 of 1,681 precincts: 25 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 30 percent
    • Donald Trump: 27 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 19 percent
    • Ben Carson: 10 percent
    • Rand Paul: 4 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 3 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 2 percent
    • Chris Christie: 1 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

___

8:25 p.m.

Donald Trump's voice is hoarse but he still has lots to say.

He's telling 2,000 Republicans in suburban Des Moines, Iowa, that "we're going to win again" and take back the country.

Trump is criticizing the Obama administration's foreign and trade policy, promising to command respect for the United States in the world.

Trump says his mission in the presidential race is to "make America great again."

Early arrivals at Iowa's Democratic caucus sites are split among health care, the economy and income inequality as the top issue facing the country.

That's according to preliminary results of an entrance poll at caucus locations.

Almost 3 in 10 say experience is the most important quality in deciding which candidate to back. What's next? Honesty and someone who cares about people like them.

Six in 10 say the next president should continue President Barack Obama's policies.

The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 40 randomly selected sites for Democratic caucuses in Iowa.

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8:15 p.m.

Early Caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 617 of 1,681 precincts: 37 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 52 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 48 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 273 of 1,681 precents: 16 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 30 percent
    • Donald Trump: 27 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 19 percent
    • Ben Carson: 10 percent
    • Rand Paul: 4 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 2 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 1 percent
    • Chris Christie: 1 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

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8:10 p.m.

Republican or Democrat — Jeb Bush is criticizing them all.

President Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump. Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio.

Bush tells supporters in New Hampshire that Obama is "a failed president." And the former Florida governor is hitting Trump — though not by name — for "insulting" his way toward the presidency.

The latest statewide polls in New Hampshire show Bush in a fight for second place. Trump holds a commanding lead.

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8 p.m.

Early Caucus numbers as reported by Associated Press:

DEMOCRATS:

  • 320 of 1,681 precincts: 19 percent
    • Hillary Clinton: 53 percent
    • Bernie Sanders: 47 percent
    • Martin O'Malley: 1 percent

REPUBLICANS:

  • 115 of 1,681 precents: 7 percent
    • Ted Cruz: 30 percent
    • Donald Trump: 29 percent
    • Marco Rubio: 18 percent
    • Ben Carson: 10 percent
    • Rand Paul: 4 percent
    • Jeb Bush: 2 percent
    • Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
    • Carly Fiorina: 2 percent
    • John Kasich: 1 percent
    • Chris Christie: 1 percent
    • Rick Santorum: 1 percent

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7:50 p.m.

Here's what's at stake on the delegate front in the Iowa caucuses.

The Democrats have 44 delegates at stake and the Republicans have 30. That's just a small sliver of what it will take to win each party's nomination.

For Democrats, it will take 2,382 delegates to win the nomination. For Republicans, it will take 1,237.

Hillary Clinton starts off with a big lead because of endorsements by Democratic superdelegates. They're the party leaders who can support the candidate of their choice.

Clinton has 362 endorsements to just eight for Bernie Sanders. Martin O'Malley has two.

Republicans don't have nearly as many superdelegates.

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7:45 p.m.

Several Republican candidates spoke at caucus sites before voting began -- including Dr. Rand Paul, Dr. Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.

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7:10 p.m.

Early arrivals at Iowa's Republican caucus sites are deeply unhappy with how the federal government is working.

That's according to preliminary results of an entrance poll of those arriving at caucus locations.

Four in 10 say they're angry. One-half say they're dissatisfied.

Almost 4 in 10 say the most important quality in a candidate is someone who shares their values.

Also, 2 in 10 want someone who can bring needed change.

The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 40 randomly selected sites for Democratic and Republican caucuses in Iowa.

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7 p.m.

The Republican race in Iowa seems to be a three-way contest among Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

That's according to entrance poll interviews with early arrivals to caucus sites conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

On the Democratic side, the race appears tight between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

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6:50 p.m.

For the election night party in Iowa, Ted Cruz's campaign has booked a country music band that bills itself as having "blue collar roots and a fun attitude.'

Red, white and blue banners with Cruz's campaign slogans "Trusted" and "Cruzin' to Victory" are hanging from the ceiling of the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

But most of the attention will be focused on two large video screens that will show results from the Iowa caucuses.

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5:20 p.m.

Even before Iowa's caucuses get underway, Donald Trump is predicting "a tremendous victory."

That's his message to supporters in a hotel ballroom in Cedar Rapids.

Trump is banking on a stronger-than-usual turnout. Polling shows many potential caucus-goers are new to the process.

Some of Trump's children plan to attend caucuses around the state and promote their dad's candidacy.

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5:06 p.m.

Chris Christie says he's ready to be president and that Barack Obama wasn't in 2008.

Christie's message to New Hampshire voters: Don't put another first-term senator in the White House.

It's a knock by the New Jersey governor on two of the Republicans in the race — freshmen Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida.

Christie says they've never managed anything — and running the country isn't something they're up to.

Obama was a first-term senator from Illinois when he beat Republican John McCain in 2008.

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4:37 p.m.

The day began for Chris Christie in Iowa and ended in New Hampshire.

The Iowa caucuses were still hours away and Christie already was back in New Hampshire, appealing for support in the state's primary Feb. 9.

The New Jersey governor has focused much of his campaigning in New Hampshire and hopes for a strong showing.

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UPDATE: 2:36 p.m.

Republican Donald Trump is asking his supporters to keep an eye out for potential tomato-throwers at a rally in Cedar Rapids.

Trump says he was informed by security before walking onstage at his final pre-caucus rally that someone in the Doubletree Hilton ballroom might have one to lob.

He tells supporters if they see someone getting ready to throw a tomato, they should "knock the hell out of them."

He says, "I will pay for the legal fees, I promise."

Trump is working to get out the vote ahead of tonight's caucuses.

He was introduced at the rally by his most famous backer: Tea Party star Sarah Palin.

Trump is telling Iowans that it's been a pleasure campaigning in their state and is encouraging people to get out to their caucus sites tonight.

He says, "this is the day we take our country back."

12:45 p.m.

John Kasich says his rivals should follow his lead and call on the super PACs supporting them to take down negative advertisements.

Kasich, who is spending Monday campaigning in New Hampshire rather than Iowa, says candidates should spend the next week talking about "what they're for" rather than knocking each other down.

Kasich's campaign on Monday told the super PAC backing him not to air a negative television ad against rival Marco Rubio. Campaigns and super PACs are barred from coordinating, but the super PAC chose to replace the negative ad with a positive spot about Kasich.

Kasich, who has largely declined to hit his rivals, has started shaming them for promoting what he says are lies about his record. Many of his GOP opponents use his expansion of Medicaid in Ohio to tie him to President Barack Obama. But Kasich isn't backing down from his choice, saying it's saved lives in his home state.

 

Data is curated by insidegov.com

12:30 p.m.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has a chance to sway at least one undecided voter at one of his final campaign stops in Iowa.

Jane Gaines of Churdan, Iowa, came to see Cruz on Monday and she doesn't know who she will caucus for just hours later at night. Churdan says she came to hear Cruz's message, but she's leaning toward supporting retired surgeon Ben Carson.

Churdan says, "I look for real. I look for transparent. I look for a statesman and not a politician."

Others at Cruz's event in Jefferson, Iowa, say they plan to caucus for him.

Tracie Perez of Scranton, Iowa, says she has been a Cruz fan since he ran for the Senate in 2012. Perez says she's "praying hard" for Cruz, but worried rival Donald Trump may win.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Data curated by InsideGov