DeSantis finishes second place in Iowa caucus

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate was declared as the projected runner-up in the Iowa caucus on Monday evening with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley coming in third.

The Associated Press made the call around midnight.

Former President Trump won first place in the Iowa caucus, cementing his status as the front runner in the GOP presidential primary election.

Multiple news outlets including the Associated Press and CNN had made the projection on Trump's victory with less than 1% of the vote in shortly after the polls closed.

"Not a surprise but still, this is the earliest I can remember ever calling such a thing," said CNN anchor Jake Tapper live on-air.

A Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll released on Saturday showed Trump leading the pack, Haley in second with 20%, DeSantis in third with 16% and Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in fourth with 8%.

Former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., announced his decision to drop out of the presidential race this week.

Voters in the state braved cold temperatures and snowy conditions to participate in the election.