US Senator Ted Cruz beat billionaire Donald Trump in Iowa's Republican presidential nominating contest on Monday, upsetting the national front-runner in the race to be their party's White House nominee.
Cruz, a conservative lawmaker from Texas, won with 28% of the vote compared to 24% for businessman Trump. Marco Rubio, a US senator from Florida, came in third place with 23%, making him easily the leader among establishment Republican candidates.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in a virtual tie with rival Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist US senator from Vermont. With 88% of the precincts reporting Clinton led with 49.9% to Sanders' 49.4%.
Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who had trouble gaining any traction in the Democratic race, planned to suspend his campaign. He won 0.6%.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in a virtual tie with rival Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist US senator from Vermont. With 93% of the precincts reporting Clinton led with 50.1% to Sanders' 49.3%.
Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who had trouble gaining any traction in the Democratic race, planned to suspend his campaign. He was in third place with 0.5%.
Cruz's win and Rubio's strong showing could dent the momentum for Trump, whose candidacy has alarmed the Republican establishment and been marked by controversies such as his calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Rubio said, "They told me I needed to wait my turn, that I needed to wait in line. But tonight here in Iowa the people of this great state have sent a very clear message."
The results could have ramifications in upcoming races.
"There is now blood in the water for Donald Trump," said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. "Ted Cruz proved he could successfully beat back Trump attacks because he had a great ground game and identified well with evangelical voters."
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said he was suspending his campaign for the Republican party nomination. Huckabee won the Iowa caucus in 2008.
Cruz: Tonight is a victory for 'courageous conservatives'
Ted Cruz, not favoured to win Iowa just a few months ago, is delivering his victory speech.
"God bless the great state of Iowa," he said. "Tonight is a victory for the grassroots. Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and across this great nation."
Amid cheers of "Ted! Ted Ted!" he said his win was a victory for "millions of Americans" who have "shouldered the burden" of seven years of Barack Obama's policies.
"Our rights come from our creator," not any political party, he said, citing Bible passages.
Trump projects confidence
Donald Trump gave a classic Trump reaction to his second-place (as of now) finish -- saying he wasn't even given a chance to come in top 10 when he started this campaign.
He hit all the Trump notes, slamming Hillary Clinton and saying he's honored with his finish.
"We love New Hampshire, we love South Carolina, it’s going to be a great week," Trump said. "I think we’re going to be proclaiming victory, I hope."
But Trump only spoke for a few minutes, far less than Marco Rubio (sitting 1 percentage point behind Trump right now) and with far less messaging.
Behind the Trump confidence and bravado, he seemed a bit shaken by his finish.
Of course, he goes into New Hampshire with a heavy lead in polls.
Trump congratulated Cruz and said he still expected to win the Republican nomination.
"I'm just honored, I'm really honored," Trump told supporters. He said he looked forward to the next contest next week in New Hampshire, where polls show him ahead.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said he was suspending his campaign for the Republican party nomination. Huckabee won the Iowa caucus in 2008.
Iowa has held the first nominating contests, called caucuses, since the early 1970s, giving it extra weight in the US electoral process that can translate into momentum for winning candidates. The caucuses are voter gatherings that take place in 1,100 schools, churches and other public locations across the Midwestern state.
The 2016 election is shaping up to be the year of angry voters as disgruntled Americans worry about issues such as immigration, terrorism, income inequality and healthcare, fueling the campaigns of Trump, Sanders and Cruz.
