What if Democrats lose Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses?

On Apr 17, 2022

Iowa Democrats may have seen its last first-in-the-nation caucus.The Democratic National Committee has changed its rules and will no longer guarantee the Iowa caucuses will remain first.Iowa Democrats now have to apply and make their case to the DNC as to why the Iowa caucuses should remain first.Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, said Iowa could have a lot to prove.”We have to show that we know what we’re doing,” Hagle said. “In terms of doing a good job in terms of vetting the candidates.”And there’s a lot of value to having one of the smaller states go first in the sense that, especially for Iowa, that it’s relatively inexpensive for a candidate who maybe doesn’t have a lot of name recognition.”Hagle said some of the criteria Iowa needs to meet have to do with how diverse the state is and union representation. “We are a Midwest state and there has been some concern at the national level to make sure that the Midwest doesn’t just become flyover country,” Hagle said. The caucuses, both in the months before and after, have a great impact on Iowa’s economy. Candidates and voters from across the Midwest flock to Iowa. The Iowa State Fair is one main draw. A fair spokesperson tells KCCI there are people who just come out to support or watch candidates speak on the soapbox. “It’s a 12 to 18 month cycle where we’re hosting forums, where we have coffees, where we are entertaining,” listed Jessica Dunker, the president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, who also oversees the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association. Iowa’s hospitality businesses are heavily impacted by the State’s first-in-the-nation status. In the week leading up to the caucus in 2020, Catch Des Moines reports an $11 million impact in the city of Des Moines. “People want to see and look in the eye of candidates and we provide places all over the place for candidates to do that,” Dunker said.Local hospitality leaders, like Jessica Dunker, say even moving down either of Iowa’s caucuses just a bit would change the game. “It certainly will have an impact on the number of candidates and the length of time that we see them,” Dunker said.Iowa’s Republican Caucus still maintains its first-in-the-nation status, a point some experts hope will change the DNC’s mind. Many Iowans are hoping the same. “Not just for the dollars it brings, not just for the attention it brings, but because we really know that Iowans take these choices seriously and we’re the right place to be,” Dunker said.Related:

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa Democrats may have seen its last first-in-the-nation caucus.

The Democratic National Committee has changed its rules and will no longer guarantee the Iowa caucuses will remain first.

Iowa Democrats now have to apply and make their case to the DNC as to why the Iowa caucuses should remain first.

Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, said Iowa could have a lot to prove.

“We have to show that we know what we’re doing,” Hagle said. “In terms of doing a good job in terms of vetting the candidates.

“And there’s a lot of value to having one of the smaller states go first in the sense that, especially for Iowa, that it’s relatively inexpensive for a candidate who maybe doesn’t have a lot of name recognition.”

Hagle said some of the criteria Iowa needs to meet have to do with how diverse the state is and union representation.

“We are a Midwest state and there has been some concern at the national level to make sure that the Midwest doesn’t just become flyover country,” Hagle said.

The caucuses, both in the months before and after, have a great impact on Iowa’s economy.

Candidates and voters from across the Midwest flock to Iowa. The Iowa State Fair is one main draw. A fair spokesperson tells KCCI there are people who just come out to support or watch candidates speak on the soapbox.

“It’s a 12 to 18 month cycle where we’re hosting forums, where we have coffees, where we are entertaining,” listed Jessica Dunker, the president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, who also oversees the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association.

Iowa’s hospitality businesses are heavily impacted by the State’s first-in-the-nation status.

In the week leading up to the caucus in 2020, Catch Des Moines reports an $11 million impact in the city of Des Moines.

“People want to see and look in the eye of candidates and we provide places all over the place for candidates to do that,” Dunker said.

Local hospitality leaders, like Jessica Dunker, say even moving down either of Iowa’s caucuses just a bit would change the game.

“It certainly will have an impact on the number of candidates and the length of time that we see them,” Dunker said.

Iowa’s Republican Caucus still maintains its first-in-the-nation status, a point some experts hope will change the DNC’s mind. Many Iowans are hoping the same.

“Not just for the dollars it brings, not just for the attention it brings, but because we really know that Iowans take these choices seriously and we’re the right place to be,” Dunker said.