Live Updates and Results: Grinnell voters cast their ballots

Follow along as our reporters deliver live coverage from Grinnell polling locations. As we speak with voters, we will update this page with insights on which candidates they support, which issues are important to them and any other important developments from the polls.

To view the Scarlet & Black’s live caucus coverage on X, formerly Twitter, click here. For more information about casting your ballot, check out our voter guide.

Live Updates

11:51 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I voted for Tommy Hexter. He came to my school,” said Cameron Thompson, an 18-year-old student at Grinnell High School. “I love him. He’s the only politician I don’t hate.”

11:35 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I am out of state so I was a little unsure about how that was going to work, but everyone was really friendly,” said Tennyson Shultz `28, a Democrat. “I live in Texas and I knew that Texas was probably going to go red, and so I figured since Iowa is actually swinging more than we expected, it would probably have a little more impact.”

11:17 a.m., Elks Lodge — Tracy Glasgow, 52, said her Christian values influence her decisions as a voter. “I do not believe in abortion at all, and as a Christian I always vote Republican,” said Glasgow.

11:12 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I’m a Republican but that doesn’t mean I always vote Republican,” said Jean Kinnairo, 82. Kinnairo did not state who she voted for.

11:04 a.m., Elks Lodge — Sam Simon, 18, voted for Donald Trump as an independent voter. “Economically I think [Trump] would be the most beneficial. And war, I think what he would do for war would be very beneficial for the world,” Simon said.

10:52 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I’m tired and fearful of Trump getting in the White House and running our country,” said Chris Dixon, a 62-year-old Democrat. “I like the prospect of calm and normalcy.”

10:52 a.m., Elks Lodge — Kay Belleau, 81, said she voted for Donald Trump. “The shape the country is in right now, the economy, the illegals — I need a president who will be strong in the world,” Belleau said.

10:51 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I voted Democrat in the last election too even though I’m a Republican,” said Dave Nevins, 50. “I don’t like the direction the Republican Party is going.”

10:23 a.m., Elks Lodge — Susan Witt, 58, voted for Tommy Hexter despite voting a straight Republican ticket otherwise. “[Hexter] is local and I’m really passionate about organic farming,” Witt said. “I feel like we need to change our whole food system, and he’s really tapped into organic farming and different ways of farming. I think that’s really important right here with our country and for the world.”

10:05 a.m., Elks Lodge — “Locally, Tommy’s grassroots involvement is the strongest factor for me,” said Lara Janson, 41, a registered Democrat.

9:45 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I wouldn’t trust Trump further than I could throw him,” said Sharon Raplinter, 78.

9:40 a.m., Elks Lodge — “Well, the private school versus public school stuff, it’s a pretty big issue for sure,” Keegan Parrot, a 34-year-old Democrat, said of his decision to vote for Tommy Hexter.

9:35 a.m., Elks Lodge — Alethea Wood, 18, said an important issue when voting in her first ever election today was tax policy. “I don’t really agree with Trump’s tax policy and stuff like that, and then just, you know, reproductive rights,” Wood, who voted for Kamala Harris, said.

9:33 a.m., Elks Lodge — Robert Lloyd, 92, said he considered the economy and the border as his most important issues when voting for Donald Trump. “I feel like if it doesn’t go right, I think it’s probably the last [election]. I think the country is in trouble right now,” Lloyd said.

9:25 a.m., Elks Lodge — Felix Benardo `25, age 21, said he was voting for Tommy Hexter for House District 53. “My key issues with Tommy were the environment and farmers’ rights and protecting local farmers and protecting local food,” said Benardo, a Democrat. “Also demanding more tax money from big corporations like Walmart and Hy-Vee and those kinds of places. I think his connection with local farmers is important and with Diana [Dawley], I think it’s an extension of that.”

9:20 a.m., Elks Lodge — “I’ve always considered myself very conservative and moderate,” Luke Kotz, a 44-year-old independent voter, said about his decision to vote for Kamala Harris. “A big factor for me is just everything that surrounds Trump, I struggle with a little bit as being the leader of our nation, so this is a tough one for me.”