Iowa Republicans are gearing up for the caucuses on Monday at 7 p.m. CT to select their presidential nominee. With former President Donald Trump enjoying a significant lead in the state polls, all eyes are on the contest for second place between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Additional candidates in the race include business Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Following the conclusion of the voting, Iowa Republicans expect to begin reporting the caucus results shortly. However, it is worth noting that Iowa Democrats opted not to hold a contest on Monday after the Democratic National Committee decided to reschedule the state later in the primary calendar.

The expected vote refers to the estimated total number of votes in the race once all ballots have been counted. This estimate takes into account early voting numbers and information provided by county election officials on Election Day. As new information continues to emerge, the figure may be subject to change.

As the caucuses unfold, political pundits will be closely monitoring the race, particularly the competition for second place. Trump's commanding lead in the polls suggests strong support from Iowa Republicans, but the battle for the runner-up position could have implications for the candidates' future campaigns.

This year's caucuses carry added significance as they mark a crucial step in the selection process for the Republican presidential nomination. While Trump's presence looms large, rivals like DeSantis and Haley will undoubtedly strive to make their mark and gain momentum going forward.

Stay tuned for further updates on the Iowa Republican caucuses and the race for second place as the results start pouring in.