Supporters cheer as caucus returns are reported at Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, caucus night rally.

United States Republican candidate Ted Cruz has been declared the winner in the first GOP battle in Iowa in the race for the White House on Tuesday.

The Texas senator has edged past Donald Trump and a crowded GOP field.

Cruz won with strong support from Iowa’s influential evangelical community and conservative voters.

Cruz’s victory in the first contest of the 2016 race comes just four years after he rode a tea party wave to win election to the Senate.

The race now moves to New Hampshire, where Trump has strong support among voters frustrated and angry with Washington.

Meanwhile in the Democratic Party side of the caucuses, Martin O’Malley decided to suspend his presidential campaign after only garnering just 1 percent of the votes on Tuesday.

The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor never gained traction against rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Officials said former Secretary of State Clinton had won by a razor-thin margin against U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history.

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