Donald Trump has won the Republican party’s Iowa caucuses, according to a projection by Sky’s US partner NBC News.
The voting is the first step of a process that’s likely to see the former president picked as Republican candidate for November’s election.
Mr Trump was overwhelming favourite to be top pick among Republican members in Iowa and all eyes are now on his margin of victory and who will come second.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley are hoping for a respectable result to position themselves as a credible outside challenger.
Mr Trump had urged supporters in Iowa to brave temperatures as colder as -30C to register their vote, joking “even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it”.
Mr DeSantis has crisscrossed the state to strengthen his campaign
Voting among Republican party members began at 7pm local time in hundreds of schools, community centres and other venues across Iowa.
Those who attend listen to speeches on behalf of each candidate before making their choice.
A big win for Mr Trump would strengthen his claim that he’s the only serious candidate to take on President Biden.
Votes are counted at Fellows Elementary School in Ames, Iowa
The ex-president is forecast to secure 16 delegates in Iowa, according to NBC News, with his two main challengers each predicted to pick up four.
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A series of caucuses and primaries in different states will determine how many delegates each candidate has at the Republican national convention in the summer – where the ultimate winner will be chosen.
New Hampshire hosts the next vote on 23 January.
Donald Trump’s expected victory in Iowa comes despite him facing several criminal and civil cases, with some states trying to bar him from standing.
