After months enjoying – or enduring, depending on your point of view – campaign ads and visits by presidential candidates, Tama County voters had their chance to cast votes in the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus Monday night. At the end of the night, things were a bit more decisive on the Republican side.

Statewide, Ted Cruz won 27.7% of the vote in a first-place finish, earning him eight delegates. Donald Trump finished second with 24.4%, and Marco Rubio had a surprisingly strong third-place showing with 23.1%. With virtually all precincts reporting Monday night, Cruz won 51,649 voters to Trump’s 45,416.

Here in Tama County, the results were reversed – Trump carried the county with 36% of the votes (350 people). Cruz earned the support of 31% of Tama County residents, or 307 people. Rubio finished a more distant third locally with 13%. Dr. Ben Carson was the only other candidate to rise above 3% support among Tama County voters (at 8%).

The Democratic race, meanwhile, proved to be much closer than many pollsters and pundits predicted.

Hillary Clinton held a small lead over Bernie Sanders statewide, with most sources listing the result at 50% to 50% – or 50% to 49% – depending on the math.

In Tama County, Clinton was the choice of a more moderate-leaning Democratic electorate, earning 53% of the votes to Sanders’ 47%.

Regardless of the final outcome for Democrats – either a close Clinton or Sanders win – the delegates appointed will be virtually identical, ensuring the race remains competitive (at least through the New Hampshire primary next week).