Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis compete for second place
The most competitive race in Iowa tonight is the Republican battle for second place, according to pre-election polling.
Donald Trump has maintained a remarkably large and stable lead in surveys, of some 30 points or more, over a dwindling field of challengers. His edge has persisted despite facing 91 criminal charges, a state awash in advertisements from competitors and a series of debates which he did not attend.
As of Sunday, Trump was polling at 53 per cent in Iowa, according to FiveThirtyEight’s averages. A steadily climbing Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the UN, was at 19 per cent and Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, at 16 per cent.
Iowa voters to brave coldest caucuses on record
Monday is on track to be the coldest election day in the history of the Iowa caucuses.
As of this morning, the forecast high in Des Moines, the state’s capital and largest city, was -18C and the forecast low -26C. The area is under a wind-chill warning from the National Weather Service until Tuesday.
Additionally, nearly two feet of snow have fallen on the city in the past week. The extreme conditions could threaten voter turnout.
What to read on Iowa
The Iowa caucuses on Monday fire the starting gun on the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Here are the essential recent reads from the FT’s Washington team:
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Who are the Republicans still in the race?
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The Big Read from James Politi and Lauren Fedor — both now in Iowa — asks: can any Republican beat Donald Trump?
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Republican voters overwhelmingly back Trump on the economy, according to an FT-Michigan Ross survey.
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Chris Christie says Nikki Haley is about to get “smoked” in the race against Trump. Pollsters think his exit from the race will help her chances.
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Haley and Ron DeSantis increasingly appear to be fighting each other, not Trump.
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Trump still doesn’t know if he’ll be banned from some states’ primaries for alleged involvement in insurrection.
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“Have you ever fought [with your husband],” asks Kevin McCarthy, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, explaining his relationship with Trump in a Lunch with the FT.