It remains unclear who the clear winner of the chaotic Iowa Democratic caucus really is despite the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) releasing figures Thursday showing former mayor Pete Buttigieg winning over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) by a teentsy 0.1%.
The Democratic National Congress (DNC) earlier Thursday called for a complete recanvassing of the vote because of numerous inconsistencies, tallies that didn't add up and other serious flaws that rendered the results suspect. Sanders, however, has indicated he won't file a formal protest.
He said, "We've got enough of Iowa. I think we should move on to New Hampshire." He also noted that at the end of the day, "Mr Buttigieg and I will have an equal number of delegates to the national convention."
With 99% of precincts reporting, the IDP Thursday afternoon reported Buttigieg (pronounced "boot-ah-judge") had won 26.2% of the vote (564 voters) giving him 13 pledged delegates. Sanders won 26.1% (562 voters) giving him 12 pledged delegates. Third was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) with 8 delgates, 18% of the vote (387 voters) and former vice president Joe Biden with 6 delegates and15.8% of the vote (341 voters).
CNN, however, is reporting errors in the final IDP count. The New York Times on Thursday detailed the extent of the errors. Its analysis found "more than 100 precincts reported results that were internally inconsistent, that were missing data or that were not possible under the complex rules of the Iowa caucuses."
DNC Chair Tom Perez urged IDP officials to immediately recanvass Monday's caucus vote after days of confusion, concerns about "inconsistencies" found in the data and the accuracy of the count.
"Enough is enough," said Perez in a tweet. "In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to assure public confidence in the results, I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass."
Perez later said he wanted "to make sure every Iowa voter knows that their vote was counted."
Sanders non-protest seals Buttigieg's incredible and improbable victory. It also might mean Buttigieg will become both the youngest, and the first gay, president of the United States.
Historically, the Democratic candidate that wins the Iowa caucus ends-up winning the party's nomination. The same held true for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Buttigieg has the chance to write one of the most incredible -- and revolutionary -- episodes in American political history by being the first homosexual man to win the presidential nomination of a major American political party. Buttigieg might also become the first Millennial president of the U.S.
Buttigieg is an openly gay man who fights for inclusion, LGBTQ rights and raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, while fighting against income inequality and racism. Buttigieg, 38, is married to another gay man, Chasten Buttigieg.
Buttigieg raised eyebrows and invited criticism by proclaiming victory Monday evening at Iowa despite zero polls counts being released by IDP.
With supporters shouting "President Pete! President Pete!" Buttigieg told his people he had won.
"We don't know all the results," said Buttigieg. "But we know, by the time it's all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation, because by all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious."
Later asked by CNN later about what his victory means, Buttigieg replied, "It's extraordinary."
"It also, I hope, means something to a lot of people wondering if they fit in, people who are different, people who don't know if they belong in their community or in their family. This is a proof that you can believe in yourself and in your country."
