The latest on Iowa caucuses: Iowa Democratic Party says results coming 'later today'

For more than a year, the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign has played out in Iowa. But after roughly 2,500 campaign events, the 2020 caucus cycle is nearly over — without results.

Iowa Democratic Party told reporters early Tuesday morning that they were manually verifying results.

"We expect to have numbers to report later today," chair Troy Price said on a 1 a.m. press call.

The Des Moines Register had more than 60 journalists covering all the news and the delays by the Iowa Democratic Party in reporting the results. Follow along to see a timeline of caucus day in Iowa as we await results.

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11:55 p.m. - A summary of the results delay, and candidates' thoughts

From a full story by our chief politics reporter, Brianne Pfannenstiel:

Mandy McClure, communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party, said the delays were the result of quality checks and the fact the party was reporting three sets of data for the first time. She said the party did find inconsistencies in the three data sets — the first round, the second round and the overall delegate numbers. "This is simply a reporting issue, the app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion," she said.

There had been no further statement from the state Democratic Party by 11:55 p.m. Elsewhere, some thoughts from candidates who took the stage:

"It looks like it is going to be a long night but I'm feeling good," Joe Biden said. "Folks, each and every one of us knows that deep in our bones, that everything this nation stands for is at stake." Amy Klobuchar was the first major candidate to take the stage: "We know one thing: We are punching above our weight." “It is too close to call so I’m just going to tell you what I do know," Elizabeth Warren said as she took the stage in front of supporters about 10:30 p.m. "As the baby daughter of a janitor, I am so grateful to be up on this stage tonight. Tonight as a party, we are one step closer to defeating the most corrupt president in American history." "At some point the results will be announced," Bernie Sanders said a few minutes later. "We are going to win this election because the people of the United States are sick and tired of a massive level of income and wealth inequality." Pete Buttigieg, in remarks around 11:30 p.m., said: "Iowa, you have shocked the nation," in hints of attempting to claim an early victory. ... "With hope in our hearts and fire in our bellies, we're going on to New Hampshire ... to chart a new course for our country."

11:22 p.m. - Warren campaign: Every second without results 'concerning'

A statement from Elizabeth Warren's campaign manager, Roger Lau.

11:05 p.m. - Biden campaign blasts delay in results

The general counsel for the Joe Biden has sent a letter to the Iowa Democratic Party asking for "full explanations" about the tabulation of results that have yet to arrive.

10:52 p.m. - Searching for an end to divisiveness

Chuck Wirtz of Whittemore told Democrats caucusing in Emmetsburg that he voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, but he couldn’t back him again.

The lifelong Republican said he thought it would take another businessleader to beat Trump, and that was why he was backing former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Trump was great for me economically, but the divisiveness that’s developed in our country" — with the president "pitting one side against the other" — is horrific, said the 59-year-old. “I don’t know that our country can live with four more years of that.”

Failing to get enough support for Bloomberg, Wirtz backed U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont Monday night. Sanders can bring “more Democratic voters to the polls – more than any other candidate,” Wirtz said. And that could be enough to beat Trump in November.

- Donnelle Eller

10:40 p.m. - In search of a moderate, 'Amy gives me a choice'

Self-described conservative Dan Manning checked into the caucus site for Warren County townships Greenfield and Lincoln II to stand for Amy Klobuchar.

Manning, who is registered as a Republican but says he is more of an independent, said he did not vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in 2016. He said this time around, he is in search of a moderate.

“I can’t say I’m against Trump because I think he has done a lot of good,” Manning said.

But the president’s personality rubs Manning the wrong way.

“I can’t vote for somebody I don’t respect as a man,” he said.

Klobuchar gives him the moderate alternative he is seeking, Manning said. “Amy gives me a choice. Otherwise I have none.”

- Michael Rolands

10:34 p.m. - Winning with desserts

Frank Veltri’s secret weapon to win over caucusgoers was layers of Kringla he asked his wife, Marit, to make.

“The idea was to give it out to people who came over” to caucus for former Vice President Joe Biden, Veltri said. His wife had other ideas, though. She handed out the Scandinavian pasties to Democrats caucusing for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other candidates as they walked by Monday night in Emmetsburg.

- Donnelle Eller

10:25 p.m. - Welp.

On hold for an hour to report caucus results. Interview with CNN. Democratic Party finally picks up. Democratic Party hangs up.

Sounds about right.

10:12 p.m. - Why we're still waiting on caucus results ...

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.

The Associated Press will declare the winner based on the number of state delegate equivalents.

- Associated Press

9:50 p.m. - 'You're the heart of politics'

In Des Moines' 59th precinct, Volunteer Mary Chapman talked about meeting observers who traveled from Georgia and Utah who said: “You’re the heart of politics."

She said she feels the travelers validate Iowa in the political system and loves to see engagement in the political process that brings people over state lines.

Another observer who traveled to Iowa for the caucuses is Rani Chaudhry, who drove from Michigan to observe the process.

She called Iowa “peak American politics.” Chaudhry said this is a hot political year, but she said she would have wanted to see the caucus process even if the year was dull. She even drove out for the Iowa State Fair in August.

“Iowa's such a lynchpin of American politics,” Chaudhry said. "There's nothing better than Bill de Blasio in jeans talking to people at the Iowa State Fair."

- Dani Gehr

9:41 p.m. - A caucus first: An ASL gathering

Our Iowa columnist, Courtney Crowder, was at the first American Sign Language caucus event this evening.

9:34 p.m. - Making heads and tails of results

When an Iowa caucus delegate count gets too close to call — get a coin.

That's what happened at a rural precinct in Iowa Falls on Monday evening during a tight caucus count between Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren.

Sixty-two people were in attendance, according to Sara Baranowski, editor of the Iowa Falls Times-Citizen. The viability threshold to obtain delegates in that location was 10.

Klobuchar of Minnesota took an early lead with 19 supporters as her rivals struggled to keep pace. But Warren of Massachusetts was able collect 19 supporters of her own.

Klobuchar won the coin toss to win four delegates, while Warren got three, along with former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg — despite him having five fewer supporters. Former Vice President Joe Biden earned the remaining two.

Another coin toss was necessary for a delegate in Ocheyedan. Klobuchar was again a winner. Although Pete Buttigieg edged out Klobuchar in a third coin toss.

- Phillip Bailey

Read more on Amy Klobuchar's caucus day here.

Caucusgoers are familiar with the coin toss practice. In 2016 candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton used coin flips to decide many delegates.

9:24 p.m. - A party of one

When Jon Kinnamon approached the Democrat precinct chair, he was looking for the other Michael Bennet supporters for the first alignment in Iowa City's precinct 23.

“The worst part about not making viability is you don’t have anybody to talk to,” said Jon Kinnamon, 79, who learned he was the sole Bennet supporter.

“Still,” he said, “It’s exciting to find out you’re a (precinct) captain.”

- Zachary Oren Smith

9:13 p.m. - Hei Hei's sayin' "hey, hey!"

A squawk rang out over the King Elementary cafeteria to announce the end of precinct 37’s first alignment in Des Moines. Precinct co-chair Deb Henry held aloft a plush version of Hei Hei, the rooster from the Disney film "Moana."

Henry said she uses the same technique to attract the attention of her high school biology students when she catches them on their cellphones.

Lessons in science and civics, crossing on the same night.

- Katie Akin

9:01 p.m. - Dilemmas and defections

After the first round of caucus aligning in a Larchwood precinct, three candidates were viable, competing for two delegates: Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Warren’s voters defected.

Breann White, 31, wasn’t thrilled that she had to cast her vote for Klobuchar.

But when it came to choosing between Sanders and Klobuchar, the Warren supporter had to vote for a woman.

“I love Elizabeth. I think she is the best all-around with her plans, policy and promises that reflect my values,” she said. “Klobuchar is moderate, but I want a woman president. ... She’ll get the job done. But Warren has my heart all the way.”

Shelly McCarty, who spoke in favor of Klobuchar, was pleased that her candidate won a delegate in Lester while also taking three from Larchwood.

“Amy is just Midwestern values,” McCarty said. “I think she can take Trump on.”

- Makenzie Huber and Jonathan Ellis

8:50 p.m. - Booker out, but not shut out

Cory Booker dropped out of the presidential race three weeks ago, but he's earned at least one delegate on caucus night from a precinct at Drake. Here's how:

8:45 p.m. - Fighting an uphill battle for Biden

Dala Iguodala was keeping a smile on his face Monday, but he knew he was in an uphill battle trying to convince fellow University of Iowa students to support his favorite candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Iguodala, 21, is a computer science major originally from Chicago. He had a large, white Biden sign and was standing in the back of the Iowa Memorial Union ballroom surrounded by a couple dozen like-minded caucusgoers.

This precinct is primarily for students who live in dormitories, and they were clearly more excited about progressive candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Eliizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

“I think a lot of college students support Bernie. He’s just a more exciting candidate for them, but we’ll pick up,” Iguodala said. “We might lose the battle, but we won’t lose the war.”

Iguodala admires Biden because his policies seem feasible, and he may have the clout to get them passed.

“He’s respected around the world and he’ll restore a lot of our relationships with a lot of countries. Because the U.S., to a lot of countries, we are like the laughingstock of the world. I feel like he can restore that to where we used to be,” Iguodala said.

Just in case, though, Iguodala had a Plan B for caucus night – Andrew Yang.

“He has some good views,” Iguodala said of Yang, whose more vocal supporters were in the opposite corner of the room. “I’m a little open. I’m not totally biased, like no one can change me.”

- Mark Emmert

8:38 p.m. - A heartwarming sight far from home

Dennis Baldridge — a snowbird from Marion, Iowa, in the eastern part of the state — said he contemplated flying home from Orange Beach to participate in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus Monday.

Instead, Baldridge learned about one of the first-ever satellite locations in a condo community room in Pensacola Beach on Monday evening, which brought 42 Iowans from across the panhandle. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar had the largest number of supporters with 20.

“We're real happy to hear about the satellite caucuses. And when we looked into it we found one here and it worked out perfectly,” Baldridge said.

Baldridge supported former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and was most concerned with who could beat President Donald Trump in the regular election. He went to a couple of Buttigieg events in eastern Iowa before leaving for the winter.

Molly Sanders was one of the youngest to caucus at Pensacola Beach. She is a naval aviation student from Ames, Iowa, training at NAS Pensacola.

“Honestly, just pulling into the parking lot and seeing all the Iowa license plates made my heart warm,” Sanders said.

Sanders said she was undecided coming into the caucus, hoping to talk with fellow caucus-goers and hear the stump speeches made by candidate supporters. She ultimately supported Klobuchar.

“That’s why I think the caucus is so great because I get to talk to people,” Sanders said. “Which is why it’s so hard when people cut on the caucus. I just think it’s so valuable.”

- Lisa Nellessen Savage

8:31 p.m. - Don't drink and caucus

Someone in Des Moines apparently thought they needed a little more spice in their night than the kick of democracy in action.

8:10 p.m. - Buoyant hopes for Buttigieg

Scott Matter, a 55-year-old Des Moines resident and precinct captain for Pete Buttigieg, predicted a strong night for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor as the room began to fill and supporters wearing "Pete" stickers gathered around him. Matter, a former Republican, said he changed his party registration this year to support Buttigieg. He said he used to work for Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Chuck Grassley and other Republicans. In 2016 he supported Marco Rubio in Iowa’s caucuses and voted for Gary Johnson in the general election. He said he regrets not supporting Hillary Clinton.

“That party’s moved so far from the party that I worked for,” he said. “We were all about lowering the deficit, about free trade, about so many things that this president has taken the opposite position in. That Sen. Grassley and Sen. Ernst and so many other members of congress have been complicit in that — I find it very hard to believe that I would go back.”

He said he likes that Buttigieg “emits stability,” is from the Midwest and “has the ability to lift people up.”

- Brianne Pfannenstiel

8 p.m. - Diverse turnout on Des Moines' north side

More than 130 people filled the Bosnian Islamic Center Zen Zen on Des Moines’ north side Monday night for a satellite caucus that catered to immigrants and non-English speakers. The caucus is being held in a mosque, so everyone removed their shoes before entering.

As the proceedings got underway, Deven Sapkota volunteered to translate what caucus chair Zlatka Kendic, 34, was saying into Nepali. As volunteers began to count the caucusgoers, Sapkota said he didn’t expect to be translating for the room.

Most of the attendees picked up Sen. Bernie Sanders stickers or signs before taking their seats around 7 p.m. Volunteers from Sanders’ campaign handed out flyers that outlined his biography and positions in Bosnian and English.

Hari Pokhrel, who attended the caucus with her two daughters, said she liked Sanders’ plans for “Medicare for All” and debt-free college. She had written statements of support on her Sanders sign in both English and Nepali.

At 7:34 p.m., a volunteer had all the caucusgoers raise their hands to be counted. He then counted each of them aloud. Preference groups would need 21 supporters to meet the 15% viability threshold.

- Austin Cannon

7:48 p.m. - Calling for more cards

As of 7:40 p.m., caucusing had yet to begin at Des Moines’ 47th precinct.

Why?

There weren’t enough presidential preference cards on site, organizers announced to the crowd, and they were waiting to receive more.

This precinct was expecting a larger turnout than it had in 2016, thanks in part to new apartments and housing developments built in the downtown Des Moines area in the past four years.

- Matthew Bain

7:44 p.m. - 'I don't think a woman can win this'

Robert Hennick, a 76-year-old retiree, arrived an hour early to his caucus site at Fatih Bible Baptist College in Ankeny. He planned to caucus for Joe Biden, who he believed had enough respect in the world to restore the country’s standing.

“I think he’s the only one who can beat Trump,” Hennick said. “He does things from his heart.”

He added, “I don’t think a woman can win this.”

Hennick, who giggled and playfully waved a Biden flag as children ran down the aisles of the auditorium before the caucus began, said he didn’t think a female candidate could win and he had doubts about the policies that have defined Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. “The majority of people will not vote for a socialist,” Hennick said. “I believe in capitalism.”

- Ryan Lenz

7:40 p.m. - Understanding the 'heart of the country'

Kat Davis and Steve Carney, both of Emmetsburg, said they’re unsure who they'll caucus for tonight.

Electability is the most important issue, the couple said. Davis said her heart is with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. But she worries the label of socialism will keep people from voting for him.

So, she’s also considering U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Carney said he likes Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Klobuchar, he said, understands the Midwest and the importance of farming. “It’s the heart of the country,” Carney said.

- Donnelle Eller

7:40 p.m. - Dressed for success

Melanie Weatherall, 50, won the precinct’s unofficial best-dressed award, showing up at Johnston 2 with a sparkly blue dress with red block letters “BIDEN” across the back. She moved to Johnston from Texas two years ago because, “y’all have better insurance.”

The unemployed nurse likes Biden because “he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth … and he’s already been there done that, wrote the book.”

About the outfit? “I like to try to uplift people and make them smile.”

She was one of 358 caucus-goers in the second precinct, a huge spike from 295 in 2018.

- Chad Leistikow

7:35 p.m. - Harry Potter and the Caucus Conundrum

As hundreds poured into the unfinished interior of Iowa City's Highlander Hotel (under renovation), Kelly and Damon Terrill corralled their two kids. This year, Kelly Terrill said, was a little easier. Ten-year-old Amelia had a copy of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" under her shoulder.

“They’re old enough that they can find ways to entertain themselves,” Kelly Terrill said.

Still, just four years ago, the couple remembered the struggle to keep up with Amelia and her younger brother, Clayton.

“Most of the people I know are bringing their kids to caucus. I mean at this point, we have elementary school-age children," Terrill said. "Some parents I know are willing to leave their kids home alone at this point, but since we don’t know how long this (the caucus) could be … we just couldn’t.”

Damon Terrill said he felt relatively lucky. They don’t have jobs that require them to be elsewhere.

“If you are a shift worker or in the service industry — whatever the case may be — you can’t take that time off and those people are excluded from the process,” Damon Terrill said. “I like the caucus. It’s an interesting tradition, but that’s a problem.”

- Zachary Oren Smith

7:32 p.m. - Cheers of a different kind in the arena

The lobby of Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines became a sprawl of humanity, with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and their cameramen circulating through the standing room-only crowd.

It wasn’t immediately clear which candidate had the most supporters. But, at least at this location, two candidates certainly had vocal supporters.

Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg.

Warren supporters got the ball rolling by chanting: “Warren’s got a plan for that!” and “Dream big, fight hard!”

Later, Buttigieg supporters chanted: “I-O-W-A, Mayor Pete all the way!” and “Boot-edge-edge! Boot-edge-edge!”

Bernie Sanders supporters got involved too, chanting: “Bernie equals victory!”

- Matthew Bain

7:30 p.m. - 'It was nice to have a quiet room'

Owen Wade merely needed to take an elevator up six flights from his office in order to serve as the precinct captain for Bernie Sanders on Monday. Wade, 32, is a research coordinator in the department of neurology at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, which hosted its first satellite caucus on the 8th floor.

Eighteen people showed up for the 5:30 p.m. session. Sixteen of them ended up in Sanders’ camp.

Wade also supported Sanders in 2016, in a gymnasium so crowded he complained that you couldn’t hear the speeches on behalf of candidates.

This was a stark contrast, and Wade delivered a short message that all could easily hear in the small conference room.

“It was nice to have a quiet room where you could actually hear people’s voices and people’s opinions,” said Wade, a first-time captain, who said he had spent the past two months thinking about this moment.

“This is the most I’ve ever been invested in a campaign.”

- Mark Emmert

7:26 p.m. - The downtown wait goes on

The start of the caucus at Des Moines’ 55th precinct was delayed as organizers worked to register a large influx of caucusgoers.

A line of roughly 100 people snaked around the wall of the lobby in the Capital Square office building downtown, even as the clock struck 7 p.m. The precinct includes many of the new apartment buildings and downtown construction that has gone up in recent years. Volunteers said the influx of population may be behind the increase in caucusgoers.

Volunteers said many people were registering as Democrats for the first time, many were changing their addresses and others were changing their party registration. Democrats are allowed to caucus as long as they are in line by 7 p.m.

A volunteer stood at the end of the long line to mark the cutoff. The caucus is expected to begin once the line has been eliminated.

- Brianne Pfannenstiel

7:15 p.m. - Hoops and hopes in DeWitt

By 6:15 p.m., the hallway at Central DeWitt Middle School was a swarm of middle schoolers letting out from a basketball game and Clinton County caucusgoers searching for their precinct.

Caucusgoers for DeWitt’s second precinct already had a strong showing in the library by 6:30 p.m. Precinct chair Tim McClimon said turnout for DeWitt’s second precinct is expected to increase by 25% from the 100 Democrats who turned up in 2016.

The county sheriff, Rick Lincoln, helped direct those signing in at the door Monday evening.

- Anna Spoerre

7:05 p.m. - Caucuses, cheeseburgers ... and Skoal

Grant, population 92 as of 2010, is hosting a Democratic Caucus for the first time ever Monday evening — and it’s being held at The Hayloft, the town’s local bar and grill.

The Hayloft is owned by Zelda Swartz, a spry 74-year-old Republican who’s run this establishment for 48 years. Hamburgers cost $2.50. There’s a Skoal chew dispenser behind the bar, at $7 a can.

The original plan was to host this precinct at Grant’s firehouse, just up the road, but they declined, Swartz said, because they would have to move the trucks outside. So the Iowa Democratic Party called Swartz.

Of course, she said.

The front bar features signs and a TV in the far corner and would later host a Grant City Council meeting before the caucus. A rustic vibe fills the back room, where farm memorabilia is scattered, old signs hang and a pool table sits prominently. Horse saddles and a Santa Claus-like sleigh sit in the back.

On the floor, supporters for Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg claimed tables on both sides. They are friendly with one another and are collectively hopeful that 30 people show up to help decide who will receive the three delegates up for grabs in Montgomery County’s fifth precinct.

- Cody Goodwin

7 p.m. - We're underway.

Lines across the state should be at their endpoints.

6:56 p.m. - 'Married' to their candidates

There is widespread representation divided among several Democratic candidates as we approach the 7 p.m. start time of this key suburban precinct, and that even includes within marriages. Mike Leonard, 67, is a supporter of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Wife Christie Leonard, 62, is for Pete Buttigieg. The Leonards are on the same page that they prefer a more moderate Democrat; their second choices are Joe Biden. But they’re united in wanting to win the general election against President Donald Trump.

“I like Amy, too,” Christie said. “But I think (Buttigieg) has a better chance of beating Trump.”

They don’t argue over their favorite candidates.

“We just yell at the TV a lot,” Mike quipped.

Over in next-door Johnston’s 2nd precinct, Klobuchar was expected to speak on her own behalf.

- Chad Leistikow

6:45 p.m. - Making voices heard

The downtown Des Moines caucus site already has gotten a little boisterous.

6:25 p.m. - The northwest Iowa hush

Only two yards boast presidential candidate signs in Larchwood that Adam Kerkvliet knows of.

One yard is filled with nearly 10 Bernie Sanders signs. It’s not until you reach the other side of the small northwestern Iowa town that you see a Joe Biden sign, he said.

The lack of visible support is to be expected, he said, while he directed setup for the Larchwood and Lester caucus event.

The rural communities tucked into the northwestern corner of Iowa are predominantly Republican, but tonight’s event is a chance for the smattering of Democrats to make an impact on an election. Democrats make up less than 10% of registered voters in Lyon County.

“This is a time when our vote actually counts for statewide or for presidential,” he said.

- Makenzie Huber

6:15 p.m. - Trump campaign's kibosh on Bloomberg News

The Trump campaign booted Bloomberg News reporter Jennifer Jacobs from an event in West Des Moines today, per a report from the Wall Street Journal. The campaign had pledged to no longer to approve credentials for the news organization owned by Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg. .

Bloomberg News declined to comment to the Wall Street Journal.

Editor's note: Jacobs was formerly the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register.

5:52 p.m. - Iowa state auditor Rob Sand not caucusing

Rob Sand, the Democratic Iowa state auditor, will not be caucusing tonight. Instead, he’ll be assisting with an Iowa Democratic Party hotline set up to help answer questions if problems pop up at caucus sites.

Sand is the only Democrat running statewide to defeat a Republican incumbent in 2018 and is considered a rising star in the party whose endorsement was highly sought-after.

He said he’s reminding Democrats that many of them won’t end up with their first choice as the nominee, but they’re all going to have to unite behind whoever that candidate is.

Every time he got close to deciding on a favorite candidate, he kept thinking that the bigger issue is whether Democrats support the nominee in November’s general election.

“It makes a much bigger difference how hard you work for the nominee,” he said.

- Stephen Gruber-Miller

5:35 p.m. - The fight for viability

If you want a window into what those second-alignment negotiations are like, our Katie Akin has a good thread from Drake. Click and scroll.

5:20 p.m. - Food, glorious food

When caucusgoers are in the basement of a shopping center, food can never be far from the brain. A savvy precinct captain is on the pizza case.

5:15 p.m. - In Florida, 'vote blue, no matter who'

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Iowa’s pivotal, first-in-the nation caucuses may take place in the dead of winter, but here in this sunny Florida Gulf Coast community, 135 Iowa residents had the luxury of showing up in shorts and T-shirts to caucus.

For the first time, the Iowa Democratic Party has allowed state Democrats to cast ballots at multiple satellite sites, including four in Florida.

At the packed Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Charlotte County, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar earned the most support at 56 caucusgoers. Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had 45. Former Vice President Joe Biden came in third with 33 supporting.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren had 12 supporters. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang each had one supporter.

Other caucus sites in Florida were in Gulf Breeze, Miramar Beach and St. Petersburg. Many of the attendees drove multiple hours to vote.

Among them were Lanny Schwartz and his wife, Jane Allen, of Cedar Falls. They drove four and a half hours from Key Largo to participate.

“I like (Joe) Biden, because I think he’s most likely to beat Trump, and that seems to be the main thing here. I think all of us here just want to defeat Trump,” Lanny Schwartz said. “We think what’s been going on is outrageous compared to what’s right and what’s in the Constitution.”

Karla and John Hansen were split in their support for Biden and Buttigieg.

Although all had their candidates of choice, one chant heard over and over in the crowd was, “Vote blue, no matter who.”

- Frank Gluck

4:50 p.m. - Fieldhouse frolics and the Fight for 15

An hour before the 4:30 p.m. caucus at the Drake University Fieldhouse began, the building was already awash in activity.

Demonstrators from the Fight for 15 movement gathered outside the building on the corner of Forest Avenue and 27th Street to demand a $15 an hour minimum wage and union rights.

Fight for 15 has not endorsed a candidate for president in 2020.

To the tune of muffled chants from outside, student athletes in the fieldhouse practiced discus and softball on a turf field. Drake softball players Kristen Arias, 19, and Emily Valtman, 18, finished a game of catch about 30 minutes before the event began.

Misty Rebik, Iowa state director for Bernie Sanders, joined a large group of enthusiastic Sanders supporters in the bleachers.

“I’ll be working later tonight!” Rebik explained.

While other caucusgoers waited in small groups, the Sanders supporters waved signs and cheered for reporters below.

Hannah Hansen, a 22-year-old marketing and psychology major at Drake, caucused for Sanders in 2016 in Davenport. She wasn’t surprised by the crowd.

“When I caucused four years ago for Bernie, they were also super pumped-up,” Hansen said. “I just feel like there’s something about Bernie. ... Something about it is just exciting.”

— Katie Akin

4:36 p.m. - A late endorsement for Warren

Deidre DeJear took to Twitter to endorse U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. DeJear ran for Iowa Secretary of State in 2018 and is a rising star in the Democratic Party here. She previously backed U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California.

"I am thrilled to be supporting Elizabeth Warren in this election," DeJear said. "She is one of those individuals who truly believes in the value of people and the hard work that they put in every single day to make do for their families and their communities. And she wants to be supportive of that."

- Kim Norvell

From the field - The caucuses begin in the Caucasus

Monday’s very first Iowa caucus took place without a hitch in a city that has spent long periods under Persian and Russian rule. Tbilisi, in Georgia, is an ex-Soviet republic and the heart of the Caucasus region, an area that straddles eastern Europe and Western Asia. Tbilisi was also the first of the so-called Iowa satellite caucuses to see action Monday, as voters there chose their preferred Democratic candidates for the 2020 race for the White House. No matter that only three Iowans showed up.

“The Tbilisi caucus was conducted successfully, over a traditional Iowan meal of pizza and ranch dressing — accompanied by a Georgian wine,” its organizer, Joshua Kucera, tweeted, about 8 hours ahead of when many of the caucuses in Iowa are due to kick off. Alongside his comments, Kucera posted a picture of Iowa’s vertical red, white and blue tricolor flag with a bald eagle in its middle.

At stake Monday in Iowa are 41 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Iowa’s Democratic Party has permitted this year 87 satellite caucuses, three of them international. In addition to Tbilisi, caucuses will also be held in a graduate student’s apartment in Glasgow, Scotland, and in Paris, where the mayor of France’s capital has agreed to let an American overseas college student host an Iowa caucus event.

On a blustery and rainy Monday, 20 Iowans showed up in Scotland's capital to express their preference for who should be the Democrats' next standard-bearer.

Sanders garnered the most support, with nine Iowans backing him to receive the nomination, followed by six for Elizabeth Warren and three for Pete Buttigieg. One voter chose not to express a second preference after her candidate did not receive enough backing to make it to a second round. Another was unable to vote because she turned up late.

"Not to put too fine a point on it, but it feels like the future is at stake with this election," said Lucy Schiller, 31, who is teaching American literature and creative writing at a college in Germany and traveled to Glasgow for the caucus. She previously taught at the University of Iowa. "This is the last off-ramp we have before climate disaster."

- Kim Hjelmgaard

From the field - The media has taken over Iowa

Not only have presidential campaigns taken over Iowa, so has the media.

Hundreds of reporters from across the country, and even internationally, have descended on the state for the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

In downtown Des Moines, the NBC network has taken over a local coffee shop, Java Joe’s Coffee House. Several large trucks for the network crowded the street outside the shop. A sign that says “MSNBC at Java Joes” is displayed right when you walk in.

MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” was hosted live from there, and MSNBC anchor Katy Tur also went live at 2 p.m.

Dell Radcliffe, 68, said she went down to Java Joe’s to “see what was going on” after missing “Morning Joe” in the morning. But when Radcliffe, who is from Des Moines, walked in, she found out that Tur — whom Radcliffe said she didn’t know — was going to go live in the afternoon and decided to stick around.

“I started plugging my meter,” Radcliffe said. Radcliffe said she is still undecided with who she is going to caucus for but is leaning to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but her husband, Mike Delaney, is going to caucus for former vice president Joe Biden.

Diane Miles, who is also from Des Moines, was sitting at Java Joe’s with a volunteer for Biden that she is hosting for the caucuses. The volunteer, John Douglass, is a retired Air Force general who is going around different states volunteering for Biden’s campaign.

- Rebecca Morin

4:05 p.m. - Disruption at Donald Trump Jr.'s event

There's bustle outside of the Democratic caucuses today, too. President Donald Trump's eldest son was speaking in West Des Moines when a male protester interrupted to say that the president's policies and rhetoric have led to more Jewish deaths than those of any past president. Security pulled the man out of the conference room as Donald Trump Jr. shouted back about misinformation spread by Democrats and members of the national media. His surrogates rose in applause as he yelled into the microphone.

At the press conference in West Des Moines, members of Trump's family also attacked Democrats as out of touch. Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Trump Victory Finance Committee National Chair Kimberly Guilfoyle, both described Democratic presidential candidates as "socialists" and "communists."

"We're going to beat them again," said the president's other son, Eric Trump. "We're going to beat them so much harder this time."

Trump's children also took shots at some specific candidates. Donald Trump Jr. referred to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as "mini Mike." (Bloomberg's height was trending on Google as 5 feet, 8 inches.)

Donald Trump Jr. also recalled campaigning for his father at Pizza Ranches in Iowa before the 2016 caucuses. He said he drew only about 15 people in the early events, a crowd size he compared to that of what former Vice President Joe Biden has drawn.

"That is a fight I would pay a lot of money to see," he said of a potential Biden-Trump match-up in the general election.

Among the Republican heavyweights in Iowa Monday: Trump's daughter-in-law and campaign adviser Lara Trump; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross; Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos; U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows; U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise; and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz

- Tyler Jett

3:45 p.m. - 181 chairs

Organizers filled the first-floor atrium of the Capital Square office building in downtown Des Moines with 181 chairs ahead of Monday night’s caucuses.

Democratic residents of Des Moines’ 55th precinct, which includes about half of downtown Des Moines, will gather there at 7 p.m. to make their presidential picks.

Caucus organizers will stand on a small stage in front of the chairs to address the caucusgoers, and a row of tables was erected near an entrance them.

- Austin Cannon

3:15 p.m. - National media prepares for caucus night

More than 2,600 members of the media fill the Iowa Convention Center Monday night when it turns into a media filing center. Prominent members of the media, including CNN's Jake Tapper, begin to file into the building around 3 p.m. Tapper spends a few minutes with students from the University of Chicago.

3:10 p.m. - Candidate celebrations

National media set up cameras at U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota's "victory" party at the downtown Des Moines Marriott four hours before the caucuses.

- Shelby Fleig

3 p.m. - Press conference

A Keep Iowa Great news conference, sponsored by Donald J. Trump for President Inc., starts at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. His son Eric Trump is in attendance.

- Sarah LeBlanc

2:45 p.m. - Windsor Heights residents: Double-check your caucus location

A Des Moines suburb had to correct an incorrect caucus location it published on social media Monday.

Residents in Windsor Heights’ first precinct should still plan to gather at Windsor Elementary School, said David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee.

Whitney Tucker, the spokeswoman for the city of Windsor Heights, said the Iowa Democratic Party called the city Monday to inquire about using a city community center in case a nearby precinct location fell through.

Iowa caucuses: More problems reported in Iowa

The Iowa Democratic Party first told the city that the precinct location at Clive Elementary School — Windsor Heights’ second precinct — had fallen through, Tucker said. Then, the IDP said the Windsor Elementary location would need to be moved.

Windsor Heights posted about the location change before the IDP confirmed that Windsor Elementary, the original location, would be good to go. In a final Facebook post, the city said it wasn’t trying to mislead caucusgoers and told residents to contact the Democratic party to find their caucus location.

“We just wanted to make sure our residents knew where they could go,” Tucker said.

Iowans can visit iwillvote.com to find their precinct location.

- Austin Cannon

2:20 p.m. - The caucuses bring people together

A Register reporter shares excitement over the caucuses with an Iowan. This year is expected to have higher turnout for the Democratic caucuses than 2008, which was a record year.

- Sarah LeBlanc

2 p.m. - Politicians, neighbors show preferences

Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg gives last-minute support to former Vice President Joe Biden. U.S. Sen. of New Jersey and former presidential candidate Cory Booker gives his support to organizers and volunteers, tweeting to remind them to drink water and eat food between shifts.

One yard is creative with their support for three candidates, dressing melting snowmen as Biden, former South Bend, IndianaMayor Pete Buttigieg, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

- Sarah LeBlanc

1:50 p.m. - Iowa Cubs celebrate the Iowa Caucuses

A video board at Principal park shows the team logo of the Iowa Caucuses. The team played a game as the Caucuses this summer.

1 p.m. - 15 people attend Iowa’s first caucus

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont won the precinct’s first alignment in Ottumwa with 14 people. One person caucused for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and did not go with Sanders on the second alignment.

The Iowa Democratic Party will award delegates from the satellite caucus locations based on their final turnout later in the evening. The ultimate winner of Iowa's caucuses will be based on those delegate numbers.

— Sarah LeBlanc

12:45 p.m. - Candidates make their last push

Several presidential candidates met with their supporters to urge them to connect with voters before the caucuses.

Former Vice President Joe Biden visited his south side campaign office and said he felt good about the night to come. Tom Steyer asked dozens of supporters to continue canvassing for him. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg made an appearance at his West Des Moines field office. Andrew Yang began the day in Grinnell with a canvass lunch.

Several senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders, could not be in Iowa due to the impeachment trial. They have surrogates campaigning for them Monday. Klobuchar's husband, John, and daughter Abigail delivered donuts to her Des Moines field office in the morning. Candidates were planning on be

As the candidates prepare for their first real test, Des Moines Register reporters looked back at their campaigns, some of which began more than a year ago:

What Democratic opponents? Joe Biden only has eyes for Trump in bid for Iowa caucus win

Will Elizabeth Warren's strong ground game propel her to an Iowa caucus victory tonight?

Amy Klobuchar's Iowa caucuses strategy relies on meeting 'friends and neighbors' everywhere

Bernie Sanders banks on expanded electorate on top of solid base for Iowa caucuses victory

Pete Buttigieg's improbable presidential run faces ultimate test on Iowa Caucus Day

Tom Steyer, who outspent his 2020 rivals on ads, is looking for an Iowa caucuses boost

Andrew Yang, the 'fun' candidate, hopes Iowa caucuses prove that he's a serious contender

— Sarah LeBlanc

11:30 a.m. - The first Iowa caucus is about to begin in Ottumwa

Ottumwa's caucus begins at noon. Located in Wapello County, the town of about 24,000 is the first of roughly 1,700 Iowa caucus locations to meet. The satellite caucus is held at the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 230 union hall.

The satellite caucus is being held earlier to accommodate those who work in the evenings.

— Sarah LeBlanc

11:15 a.m. - Students have a sweet caucus experience

Fourth and fifth graders at Downtown School participate in a cookie caucus. The students chose ice cream as the winner with 66% of the vote, and pie for second place at 31%.

— Sarah LeBlanc

11 a.m. - The first caucus wraps up in Tblisi, Georgia

While most caucuses begin at 7 p.m., one international caucus has already finished. Three Iowans in Georgia (the country) finished caucusing by 11 a.m. CST. Tblisi is one of three international satellite locations for the Iowa caucuses – the others are Paris and Glasgow, Scotland.

— Sarah LeBlanc

10:45 a.m. – President Trump’s children share memories, predictions for Caucus Day

Ivanka Trump posted memories on Twitter of the 2016 caucus, including a photo of herself and her father in Waterloo and sharing McDonald’s on Trump Force One.

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, “Joe Biden better win big or he’s in trouble,” saying that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has kept senators running for president busy in Washington, D.C., due to the “impeachment hoax.”

President Trump is projected to win the Republican caucus in Iowa. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld are also running for the Republican nomination.

— Sarah LeBlanc

9:45 a.m - An art installation in Des Moines shows fake children in cages

The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services has set up cages around the city outside of candidate and media offices to bring attention to children in detention centers on the border of Mexico.

The cages feature a sign that reads "Don't Look Away," and play a recording from a child in detention. The nonprofit will hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Las Americas United Methodist Church.

Des Moines police had this to say: "The City of Des Moines enjoys the privilege of hosting and participating in Iowa’s 'first in the Nation' caucuses, and has a long history of supporting the expression of differing opinions and accommodating the right to lawful protest. Keeping with that spirit, the Des Moines Police Department welcomes this piece of the political process, however we would like to request that when placing items to promote political agendas, candidates, or expressions of opinion, please consider not abandoning these items on public sidewalks or other public property.

— Sarah LeBlanc

9:15 a.m. - Here's what you need to know before heading to your precinct

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority partnered with the Iowa Democratic and Republican parties to offer free rides starting at 4 p.m. to help caucusgoers make it to their precincts.

Those who still have questions about where to caucus and how to register can find all the answers here.

— Sarah LeBlanc

8:15 a.m. - National media descends on coffee shops

Before the sun came up on Caucus Day, two TV shows and NPR were already taping and recording segments with a crowd.

NPR's popular show "Morning Edition" started at Smokey Row Coffee Co. at 5 a.m. and welcomed presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg around 6 a.m. MSNBC's "Morning Joe" with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski began welcoming visitors at Java Joe's downtown Des Moines at 3:30 a.m. and began their live show at 5 a.m.

At Drake Diner, patrons could sip coffee and watch CBS "This Morning" at 6 a.m.

— Sarah LeBlanc

7:30 a.m. - What to expect on Caucus Day

From candidate appearances to just how the Iowa caucuses work, Des Moines Register Chief Politics Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel will share what to expect today as the first-in-the-nation caucuses kick off Election 2020.

More on what to expect: