Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in the first 2024 Republican presidential contest in Iowa on Monday, asserting his dominance over the party as he seeks a third consecutive nomination and a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump rapidly, while caucusgoers in much of the state were still casting ballots, a sign of the wide lead the former president has in the race.

Trump beat former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a widely-expected result on Monday, they both are vying for the second place, thus taking Trump a step closer to securing a third consecutive nomination for the presidency.

Trump won at least 17 of 40 delegates, with Haley and DeSantis taking five each, provisional tallies showed, with US media outlets calling the state-wide contest about 30 minutes after the start of voting.

Whoever takes second place, albeit a distant one to Trump’s commanding lead, will see more momentum in their campaign. It’s possible the field will winnow down more after the caucus results.

The first contest kicks off the 2024 election cycle, which is predicted to be an eventual rematch between Trump and Biden. Already, threats of political violence loom over the election, as officials and judges face increasing harassment.

Iowa’s caucuses became more notable over the weekend for the weather rather than the winner, which was seen as inevitable. Caucus-goers faced sub-zero temperatures, bitter winds and snow drifts to make it to their neighborhood caucus sites, which may have affected turnout.

In the road to the first Republican election outing, the field narrowed, with Trump never falling from a commanding lead. His ardent followers showed up to rallies and worked on the ground, dismissing the ongoing legal issues and increasingly harsh rhetoric the former president used on the campaign trail, where he vowed a second term focused on retribution against his political foes.