Pete Buttigieg declares himself winner, Sanders campaign report victory amid chaos in Iowa caucuses
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Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, took to the podium late Monday night to declare himself the winner of the Iowa caucuses, despite the fact that zero percent of the vote had been reported, according to Business Insider. “So, we don’t know all the results,” Buttigieg said in front of hundreds of supporters at a rally in Des Moines. “But, we know, by the time it is all said and done, Iowa you have shocked the nation. Because, by all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious.” CNBC reports.
The Sanders campaign reports it received 29.7 percent of the vote, closely followed by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 24.6 percent. Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in at 21.2 percent, and former Vice President Joe Biden in fourth at 12.4 percent. Sanders put those numbers out shortly after Buttigieg finished his own, seemingly triumphant speech in Iowa.
The U.S. Democratic presidential nominating race got off to a chaotic start in Iowa on Monday, as the results of the state’s caucuses were delayed for hours while party officials double-checked “inconsistencies” in the initial count. This delay make it unclear when any results would be released.
The delays appeared to come after vote totals submitted through an app showed some inconsistencies. Throughout the night, state Democratic Party officials repeatedly said they were working through “quality controls” to verify the results.
Voters poured into more than 1,600 schools, community centres and other public locations for the caucuses in Iowa, the first state to choose a November election challenger to Republican U.S. President Donald Trump.
epa08191473 Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg speaks at the ‘Pete for America’ caucus night watch party in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus for the 2020 Democratic presidential race at Drake University Bell Center in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February 2020. EPA-EFE/GARY HE
epa08191410 Former Vice President Joe Biden (R), alongside his wife Jill Biden (L), speaks to supporters during his Iowa caucus night watch party in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February 2020. The Iowa Caucus is the first in the nation for the 2020 presidential elections. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO
epa08191420 US Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders (C) greets supporters as he walks to the stage during a caucus night event in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February, 2020. The Iowa Caucus is the first in the nation for the 2020 presidential elections. EPA-EFE/CRAIG LASSIG
epa08191457 Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg arrives at the Pete for America caucus night watch party in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus for the 2020 Democratic presidential race at Drake University Bell Center in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February 2020. EPA-EFE/GARY HE
epa08191463 Senator Elizabeth Warren (2-L) greets a supporter during her caucus night rally at Forte Banquet and Conference Center in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February 2020. The Iowa Caucus is the first in the nation for the 2020 presidential elections. EPA-EFE/MATT MARTON
epa08191466 US Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders (C) addresses supporters with his wife, Jane Sanders (C-R) and family on stage at the Caucus Night Celebration in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February, 2020. The first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are scheduled for 03 February 2020. EPA-EFE/CRAIG LASSIG
epa08191476 Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg (C) and his husband Chasten Buttigieg (L) greet supporters at the ‘Pete for America’ caucus night watch party in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus for the 2020 Democratic presidential race at Drake University Bell Center in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 03 February 2020. EPA-EFE/GARY HE
But the Iowa state party delayed the results as it performed “quality checks” after finding “inconsistencies” in the reporting of the data from the caucus sites, sparking frustration in Democratic campaigns and criticism from Republicans.
The Hill reports “The [Iowa Democratic Party] hung up on campaigns when they pressed for a release time,” said one senior strategist for a leading candidate. “We won’t know anything until some time tomorrow. All campaigns are pissed.” “They basically told us nothing,” said a senior strategist for another leading contender.
