Why the Iowa Caucuses are So Special & Needed More than Ever Before

There is nothing like the Iowa Caucuses.

Every four years in our state, on a winter night early in the year, neighbors come together in school gyms and community centers to talk about the future of our country and make our recommendations for the next President of the United States. The caucuses are interactive, inspiring and important. They are an example of democracy in its purest form.

Here in Iowa, we take our responsibility as the hosts of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses seriously. We take the time to meet with candidates, often multiple times, to educate ourselves on where the candidates stand on the issues, weigh the candidates’ leadership skills and ultimately choose whom we think should be the party’s nominee. As I always say, it doesn’t matter how famous you are or how much money you have — when you sit down with Iowans on a living room couch, we always give you a fair shot.

And that’s why once again, we’re seeing Democrats crisscross the state, recruiting volunteers, and laying out their positions to Iowans. Every day I wake up and read another headline about one of our candidates’ plans for Iowa’s working families, focusing on issues like building an economy that works for everyone, making education more affordable, or strengthening our clean energy sector. I love it, and from the passion and enthusiasm I’ve seen on the ground all across our state, I know that Iowa Democrats love it too.

The Iowa Caucuses have been a special part of the political process since 1972, but we’re always looking for ways to improve them and get more people involved. Iowa Democrats believe that greater political participation is good news not just for our party, but for the state overall.

That’s why last week, for the first time ever, we released satellite caucus applications for groups of Democrats who want to participate in the caucuses, but are unable to attend due to a hardship, usually of mobility, distance or time. We understand that it’s often times difficult for groups of older Iowans in a senior residential home, or shift workers at a factory, to make it out to one of our precinct caucus locations. Satellite caucuses will allow us to include more people in the process while preserving what has always made the caucuses such a special example of democracy.

While at this point Iowans are used to seeing someone write an Iowa caucus obituary every four years, I strongly believe that in a post- Citizens United world where big moneyed donors try to control the political process, the caucuses are needed now more than ever before.

With the stakes so high for America’s working families, Iowa Democrats stand ready to do their part in the selection process for our next President.