Sanders, Buttigieg have partial Iowa lead
State Dems say 62% of precincts are counted
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Democratic Party released partial results of its kickoff presidential caucus after a daylong delay on Tuesday showing former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leading the opening contest in the party’s 2020 primary season.
It was too early to call a winner based on the initial results, but Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were trailing in State Delegate Equivalents, according to data released by the state Democratic Party nearly 24 hours after voting concluded. The results reflected 62% of precincts in the state.
Buttigieg, 38, becomes the first openly gay candidate to earn presidential primary delegates. His early strength reflects his aggressive political pursuit of rural and small-town voters, including some Republicans, who prefer a more moderate approach to address the nation’s political problems.
“We don’t know all of the numbers, but we know this much: A campaign that started a year ago with four staff members, no name recognition, no money, just a big idea – a campaign that some said should have no business even making this attempt, has taken its place at the front of this race,” Buttigieg declared while campaigning in next-up New Hampshire.
While campaigns were eager to spin the results to their advantage, there was little immediate indication that the incomplete results erased the confusion and concern that loomed over the Iowa contest. It was unclear when the full results would be released.
Campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday before the partial results were released, Warren questioned the state party’s plans.
“I just don’t understand what that means, at least half of the data. I think they ought to get it together and release all the data,” she said.
A Biden campaign representative also objected to the party’s plan to release partial results before checking them against paper records, saying in a conference call that the plan didn’t address “growing reports” about problems on caucus night, such as precinct captains unable to get through on the phone to report results.
“The stories and the problems are just multiplying, so presumably you’re going to have some way of addressing that and explaining to us as you release these partial results why you’re comfortable,” Biden campaign attorney Dana Remus said. “You need to have enough transparency that other people feel comfortable about it now and we’re just not there right now.”