Iowa Caucus as it happened: Candidates faced off in first caucus for 2016 presidential election

With no end in sight for the nail bitting race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, we wrap up our live coverage of the Iowa Caucus. The first caucus of the 2016 presidential election saw an upset win by Texas Senator Ted Cruz over frontrunner Donald Trump and the campaign suspension of two candidates: Martin O'Malley (Democrat) and Mike Huckabee (Republican).

Be sure to join us again at the next key event: the New Hampshire Primary on 9 February.

With slightly over 95% reported on the Democratic side, it is still too close to call. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders remain in a dead tie and are officially the last two candidates following Martin O'Malley's campaign suspension.

I have been criticized in this campaign for many, many things, every single day. That's OK. That's OK. But let me repeat what I believe. I believe at a time when every major country on earth guarantees health care to people as a right – I believe we should do the same thing in the USA.

-Bernie Sanders

"It looks like we are in a virtual tie," says Bernie Sanders to supporters.

So how many delegates will each candidate take? We break it down:

(30 Republican delegates and 44 Democratic delegates)

Republicans

• Ted Cruz: 8
• Donald Trump: 7
• Marco Rubio: 6
• Ben Carson: 2
• Rand Paul: 1

Democrats

• Hillary Clinton: 22
• Bernie Sanders: 21

Tonight was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party.

- Reince Priebus (Chairman, Republican National Committee)

Ohio Governor and Republican hopeful John Kasich (who nabbed 1.9% in Iowa tonight) sends his best wishes to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Hillary Clinton takes the stage.

Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media.

-Sen. Ted Cruz gives his victory speech

With 89.77% reporting, Texas Senator Ted Cruz is the predicted winner of the Iowa Caucus for the Republican Party. However, with 90.72% reporting on the Democratic side, it remains too close to tell.

Democrat Martin O'Malley, who suspended his campaign tonight, gives his concession speech and shares stories from the campaign trail. Calls for immigration reform and gun control.

Tonight I am suspending this bid, but I am not ending this fight.

Donald Trump gives his concession speech: "Thank you very much, I love you people, I love you people," he begins.

Listen to Marco Rubio give his speech after nabbing a surprise 3rd place win.

So this is the moment they said will never happen.

- Marco Rubio speaking to supporters in Iowa

BREAKING: Another candidate down. Republican Mike Huckabee has announced that he is officially suspended his campaign.

BREAKING: Several news outlets reporting Democrat Martin O'Malley has ended his presidential bid.

The more you know:

Fun fact #2: The last two Republican winners of the Iowa Caucus—Rick Santorum (2012) and Mike Huckabee (2008)—did not win their party's nomination. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Republican nomination in 2012, while Senator John McCain was nominated in 2008.

Fun fact: The last two Democratic winners of the Iowa Caucus—Barack Obama (2008) and John Kerry (2004)—won their party's nomination for the presidential race. Could the same be true for tonight's winner?

Clinton and Cruz continue to maintain their leads with nearly 50% reporting on the Democratic side and almost 25% reporting on the Republican side. However, it is too soon to declare a winner on either side.

Initial caucus results reveal little surprises. On the Democrats side, Clinton is enjoying an early lead over Sanders. While long-shot candidate O'Malley is not even registering 1%. On the GOP side, Cruz is leading Trump by a small margin, with Rubio trailing behind in third place.

Large turnouts at various caucus locations are being recorded. One caucus was forced to move outdoors to accommodate everyone.

One way to shut down campaign drop out rumours:

Unsure of who to vote for? Be sure to check out our video guides for both parties.

Another Republican candidate who is vowing to stay despite tonight's results? Ben Carson. CNN reporter Chris Moody says Carson's campaign claims he will stay in the race "no matter what the results are tonight." However, the retired neurosurgeon's campaign also confirmed he will not be heading to New Hampshire or South Carolina.

The Iowa Caucus is bound to thin out the Republican field, but at least two candidates have vowed to remain in the race no matter tonight's results. Rick Santorum—winner of the 2012 Iowa Caucus— and Mike Huckabee—winner of the 2008 Iowa Caucus—have denied rumours they will be dropping out.

Despite only polling at 2% in the last Des Moines Register poll, Santorum vowed to remain in the race until at least the South Carolina primary on 20 February. Huckabee, also polling at 2%, said he is not leaving the race and vehemently denied rumours he would soon endorse Donald Trump.

It looks like the undecided voters will make a difference in this Iowa caucus:

Despite saying he would campaign aggressively in Iowa, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush appeared to throw in the towel hours before the caucuses. Bush reportedly made plans to fly out of Iowa tonight to head to New Hampshire, where candidates will be focusing next. In his last rally, Bush made a last attempt hit at party frontrunner Donald Trump. According to the LA Times, Bush called Trump a blowhard and questioned the outspoken candidate's knowledge.

Bush also predicted Trump would win in Iowa, but added, "Next Tuesday we're going to surprise the world."

Iowa will hold the first of 10 caucuses held around the US. The remaining 40 states will hold primaries instead. New Hampshire will hold the first primary on 9 February.

Iowa will hold the first of 10 caucuses held around the US. The remaining 40 states will hold primaries instead. New Hampshire will hold the first primary on 9 February.

We're kicking off our Iowa Caucus coverage with less than an hour before the caucuses are set to begin. The last rallies in the Hawkeye State were held on 31 January, with smaller events being held in the hours before Iowans head to the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

The last four Iowa Republican presidential Caucus polls reveal Donald Trump maintains his lead, with Ted Cruz following closely behind. Meanwhile, the last three Iowa Democratic presidential Caucus polls show Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are neck and neck, with Sanders leading in the Quinnipiac poll and Clinton leading in the Emerson and Des Moines Register polls.