Young voters feel the Bern, split on GOP

Des Moines area high school and middle school students are backing Bernie Sanders for president, but they are split among the large cast of Republicans seeking the nomination.

The progressive Sanders was the overwhelming winner of the Polk County Iowa Youth Caucus held at Hoover High School on Thursday night.

Sanders received 45 percent of the 132 Democratic votes cast. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley finished second with 31 percent, ahead of Hillary Clinton, who had 23 percent.

Three Republicans finished with double digit percentages. Libertarian leaning Rand Paul finished with 21 percent of the 151 Republican votes. Marco Rubio had 20 percent and Ben Carson has 18 percent.

Donald Trump finished seventh behind Carly Fiorina, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz.

Iowa Youth Caucuses were held in 22 counties across the state. Sanders won the statewide Democratic vote with 53 percent. Clinton finished with 14 percent behind O’Malley’s 24 percent.

Carson won the statewide Republican vote with 22 percent, followed by Trump (15 percent), Rubio (15 percent) and Paul (14 percent).

More than 1,600 students registered to take part in the Iowa Youth Caucus.

Polk County results

REPUBLICANS

Rand Paul: 21.19%

Marco Rubio: 20.53%

Ben Carson: 17.88%

Jeb Bush: 9.27%

Carly Fiorina: 9.27%

Ted Cruz: 8.61%

Donald Trump: 7.95%

Bobby Jindal: 2.65%

Mike Huckabee: 1.99%

Chris Christie: 0.66%

151 participants

DEMOCRATS

Bernie Sanders: 45.45%

Martin O’Malley: 31.06%

Hillary Clinton: 23.48%

132 participants