Iowa caucuses underway as Republicans cast the first ballots of the 2024 cycle

The Iowa caucuses are underway as GOP voters cast the first ballots of the 2024 cycle, creating a make-or-break moment for several candidates as they push to keep their presidential aspirations alive.

The caucuses began at 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. EST) as voters gathered in their local precincts to listen to last-minute speeches by presidential candidates and their surrogates before casting ballots for their preferred nominee. The process marks the first nominating event in the country, a contest that Republican candidates have often relied on to help clear the field and boost their campaign on the national level.