Iowa Caucuses Live Updates: Results will be announced later Tuesday, party is 'manually verifying' data
The Iowa Democratic Party says it expects to release data from the Iowa caucuses later Tuesday.
Chairman Troy Price says the party is manually verifying its data against paper backups but says systems are taking “longer than expected.” He said the delays were the result of a reporting issue, not a hack or intrusion.
Price addressed reporters shortly after the party updated presidential campaigns about the status of the delayed results in the kickoff caucuses. He did not take any questions in the call with reporters.
Even without official results, some candidates have tried to declare victory and claim momentum based on their own internal data. The Associated Press has not called a winner of Monday's caucuses.
Caucus results delayed for 'quality control' assessment
The Iowa Democratic Party says it is experiencing a delay in reporting results from the first-in-the nation caucuses because of unspecified “quality checks.”
Communications director Mandy McClure said in a statement Monday night that the delay is also the result of the party reporting three sets of data for the first time.
McClure says the party has data so far from “around 25%” of the state’s 1,765 precincts and “and early data indicates turnout is on pace for 2016."
The Iowa Democratic Party had decided to report three sets of results: tallies for the “first alignment” and “final alignment,” as well as each candidate's total of “state delegate equivalents.” Previously, only each candidate's ultimate number of state convention delegates had been reported.
Sanders has support of just over half of Iowa Democrats who caucused for him in 2016
A poll conducted by NBC News Entrance Poll found out that Sanders, who almost tied with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Iowa caucus, continues to keep the support of just over half of his Iowan backers.
The Vermont Sanders has the continued support of at least 56 percent of the voters who caucused for him four years ago. While the remaining are now divided between three key candidates: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (12%), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (11%), and former Vice President Joe Biden (7%).
Warren makes appearance at caucus site in Des Moines
Elizabeth Warren is visiting a caucus site in Des Moines as voting gets underway in the nation's leadoff voting state. The Massachusetts senator addressed hundreds of caucusgoers Monday night at a high school gymnasium. She sought to promote a message of unity, saying, “I’m someone who treats all of our Democrats with respect.”
She says the party should nominate a candidate whose campaign organization is as strong nationally as hers is in leadoff Iowa. She added: “I’ve got a great national organization.”
Many of her supporters wore green, the signature color of the Massachusetts senator’s campaign. They chanted, “Warren! Warren!” People caucusing for other candidates also applauded, but a large group of supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders responded, “Bernie beats Trump!”
Voters set to choose their favorite Democrats against Trump
Iowan caucus-goers gathered at nearly 1,700 sites across the country on January 3 to back their favorite candidates as the much-anticipated contest offers 41 pledged delegates to the 2020 aspirants. The results of the high-stakes contest will set a precedent for the upcoming polls for the Democratic candidates, who are required to meet threshold support of at least 15 percent of the caucus attendees at most sites to become viable.
Highlights:
Abortion, climate and guns among top issues for Iowa voters
Iowa caucuses begin
The Democratic presidential primary has officially begun as the Iowa causes are underway. Officials hope to complete the whole process within an hour this year because of the streamlined rules implemented by the party in 2020.
Long lines of voters are being seen at one of the largest caucus sites in Des Moines, Iowa.