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MANLY — Former President Donald Trump swept caucuses in both Worth and Winnebago counties Monday night, following suit with the rest of the state with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in second.

In Worth County, 290 people filled the auditorium at Central Springs High School in Manly for the Republican caucus, in what organizers said was a high turnout, though not the highest turnout, when compared to 2016. There were 41 new registrations.

After starting together as a large group, the people in attendance split into precincts, appointed delegates to the county convention and brought up any planks they wished to be added to the party’s platform before moving on to cast secret ballots for their presidential candidate of choice.

Countywide, Trump emerged with 194 votes, or 66.9%, with DeSantis at 35 votes, or 12.1%.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy earned 30 votes, or 10.3%, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley had 29 votes, or 10%. Ryan Binkley and “other” each received one vote.

In the precinct that covered Northwood, Grove and Hartland, resident Jeremy Yates said the biggest reason he supports Trump is because he is not a career politician.

“I firmly believe he’s the only guy that can turn this country back around,” Yates said.

In front of the whole caucus before splitting into precincts, Fertile resident Aaron Harms said it was voters’ turn to stand up with Trump. He talked about several of the achievements that took place when he was president and the values he thinks Trump stands for.

Harms said the former president built the greatest economy on record, made the country energy efficient, stood up to China, kept his promise to fight for Iowa ethanol and made people proud to be Americans, among others.

“He’s leading a movement to save our country,” he said.

Though Trump won the county, not all supported him as they tried to persuade others to consider other candidates.

Judy Larson in the Northwood precinct said she supported DeSantis and thought he was just as strong as Trump and that she thought he would be good to help “calm down our country.”

She said she had fully supported Trump in the past but after recently watching him on TV, she has changed her tone.

“I don’t feel I can go through another four years of his personality,” Larson said.

Kim Hendrickson, had also previously voted for Trump but spoke in favor of Haley, describing her as professional and a person who would be a president for all Americans.

She said Haley would be a president who would be wiling to do what is right and not be stuck on never backing down in the event she was wrong about something.

“[Trump] is a very dividing character,” Hendrickson said. “You either like him or you don’t like him. … I’m tired of the hating going on.”

Gladie Hagen spoke in favor of Ramaswamy, who had visited Northwood. She said she was impressed with his intellect, his knowledge of the Constitution and who he is as a person.

She also said while established politicians are typically “more trouble,” he comes with a clean slate and also has younger people looking to him.

She said she liked that Trump came from the outside but said his personality gets in the way of what he can accomplish.

Katie Wubben also spoke in favor of Ramaswamy, who she said motivates people to action. She asked people to switch from Trump to him.

“We don’t have time to waste here people,” she said.

The caucus provides the first insight into the direction of the presidential race.

Iowa Democrats were deciding their candidate by mail-in ballot and will release their results on Super Tuesday, which is March 5.

Worth County results

Donald Trump: 194 votes, 66.9%

Ron DeSantis: 35 votes, 12.1%

Vivek Ramaswamy: 30 votes, 10.3%

Nikki Haley: 29 votes, 10%

Ryan Binkley: 1 vote, 0.3%

Other: 1 vote, 0.3%

 

Winnebago County results

Donald Trump: 256 votes, 55.3%

Ron DeSantis: 107 votes, 23.1%

Nikki Haley: 53 votes, 11.4%

Vivek Ramaswamy: 44 votes, 9.5%

Asa Hutchinson: 2 votes, 0.4%

Ryan Binkley: 1 vote, 0.2%