Iowa Democrats Unveil a Consensus-driven Caucus Compromise

The Iowa Democratic Party has announced a unique compromise for its caucus: voting on Jan. 15 but withholding results until Super Tuesday. This decision aims to maintain Iowa’s position as the first state on the presidential nominating calendar without contradicting the new national party lineup that gives South Carolina priority in 2024. Although Iowa Democrats will only vote on down-ballot races in January, the presidential caucus balloting will be conducted through mail-in votes from January to February. Cards will be mailed out starting Jan. 12, as reported by the Des Moines Register. The proposal will be discussed at the Democratic National Committee meeting on Friday for approval.

President Biden previously urged the DNC to prioritize South Carolina. Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status has faced criticism due to its predominantly white population, lack of Democratic members in the next Congress, and the technical glitches that caused a lengthy delay in reporting results during the 2020 caucus. As per the new 2024 primary calendar set by the DNC, South Carolina will go first on Feb. 3—a decision rejected by New Hampshire, the state traditionally known for the first primary.

Although the outcome of the 2024 caucus may not greatly impact President Biden as he is expected to face no major Democratic challengers, these changes could reshape the future of the party’s presidential nominating process. According to Politico, Iowa Democrats are thinking ahead and strategizing for the long term. The Iowa Democratic Party Chair, Rita Hart, wrote a letter to the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee expressing confidence in Iowa’s ability to maintain a significant voice in future years. (Iowa Republicans have already announced that their presidential caucuses will take place on Jan. 15.)