Results from the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses were delayed Monday night as the state’s Democratic Party said a “reporting issue” caused “inconsistencies” in some data.
Doors at caucus sites across the Hawkeye State closed at 8 p.m. ET, when voters worked through a frenetic process of persuasion and changing allegiances in the 2020 presidential nominating contest. By about 11:30 p.m. ET, Iowa Democratic Party spokeswoman Mandy McClure said the party “found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results.” She added that, “in addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report.”
“This is simply a reporting issue, the app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion. The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results,” McClure said.
The contest was too early to call, according to NBC News, as the party worked to release results. A source told NBC News that technical glitches hit an app for reporting results and a backup phone line for relaying information was “a disaster.” The Iowa Democratic Party was set to hold a call with representatives of presidential campaigns, the source told NBC.
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Shawn Sebastian, a precinct secretary in Ames, Ia., told MSNBC that he has been “on hold pretty much since 8:30 trying to get these results in” after experiencing issues with the app.
Coming into the caucuses, it appeared at least four leading candidates — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., — had a chance to collect the most delegates in the state. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., also looked to notch a strong finish and boost her prospects outside of the Midwest.
A strong showing in the Iowa — or even a showing better than perceived expectations — can boost fundraising and give candidates a measure of legitimacy. Typically, but not always, the winner in Iowa goes on to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
Candidates next turn their attention to New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary on Feb. 11.
Early data indicate turnout was about on pace with the 2016 caucuses, McClure said earlier Monday. Turnout four years ago was about 171,000, well below the record levels of 2008, according to NBC News.
Iowa caucus voters were overwhelming white, according to entrance polling data. More than half, or 58%, identified as women, while 42% identified as men.
Just more than a quarter, or 27%, of attendees were 65 years or older. With 28% of respondents, the biggest group was 45 to 64-year-olds. Another 24% were 17 to 29 years old, while 21% were between 30 and 44.
Sanders typically performs better with younger voters, while Biden is stronger among older voters.
The top issues for Iowa caucus voters reflected trends seen nationally: 42% said health care mattered most in deciding who to support, while 21% answered climate change. Another 18% said income inequality, while 13% chose foreign policy.
More than half, or 57%, of respondents said they support replacing all private health insurance with a single government plan, while 38% answered that they oppose such a system. Sanders and Warren want to move to single-payer health insurance, while Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar do not.
Self-described liberals more than doubled those who identified as moderates, by a 68% to 32% margin, the entrance polls found.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
