First in the Nation: The Frenzy of Caucus Season in Iowa

Alyce Brown

As soon as the first presidential candidate arrives at the Iowa State Fair in August, Iowans know it has begun: caucus season.  

For a few months out of the year, our little fly-over state filled with small towns and lots of “opes” becomes the target of a media circus: a frenzy of activity that leaves some Iowans exhausted and some exhilarated.  For me, it was the latter. With this year being the first I was eligible to vote in our primaries, I quickly threw myself into the festivities. 

During caucus season in Iowa, it’s almost strange if you don’t meet a presidential candidate. Although I live in a relatively small town, presidential hopefuls continuously stop by. It’s not rare to have multiple candidates in town at the same time and have to choose between rallies; but don’t worry, if you have to miss one candidate’s gathering, they’re pretty much guaranteed to be back again within the next few weeks.

They work the circuit, speaking at arenas in the big cities like Des Moines before later transitioning to smaller town halls in rural areas. I saw Elizabeth Warren speak in the gym of a small local high school, another location common for candidates coming through. And if you’re on a college campus? You’re pretty much drowning in candidates every month.

Pictures of students with candidates are plastered across school newspapers, yearbook pages, and endless Instagram accounts.  After the rally of a particularly popular candidate, scrolling through social media can become little more than staring at picture after picture of your classmates shaking hands with the suit-clad contender. 

Then, on an unassuming Tuesday, the spectacle begins. Journalists set up shop at caucus sites around the state, candidates make last-ditch attempts by showing up at voting locations to give their pitch one last time, and Iowans wade into the media extravaganza to do their civil duty with the eyes of the nation upon them.

This year was my first year caucusing, and it was quite the experience. (The actual process of caucusing is quite confusing and convoluted, so I’d check out this article for a good explanation of it.) Since I have conservative parents who weren’t interested in voting in the Democratic caucus, I set out by myself to cast my first ever vote.  It was overwhelming: there were campaign aides from California live-streaming the event for their followers, reporters narrating the goings-on into their recorders, and a group of college journalism students from North Carolina that asked to interview me about my experience.

Despite all that, I thoroughly enjoyed my caucusing experience and found it quite empowering. Collapsing in front of the television when I got home, exhausted from the three hour voting process, I waited with all of America for the votes to come in. And of course, they didn’t; not that night, and not for multiple days.  Quite honestly, it’s been a bit difficult for me to stomach the criticism that has hit Iowa after this mishap, mainly because I know the critics are correct.

I love my state, and I can guarantee that the people here could not be more invested in the caucuses or more grateful for our first-in-the-nation status. However, I’m not blind. I know just by looking around that our overwhelmingly white and rural population does not represent the diversity of our nation. 

So, we’ll have to wait and see. There’s a good chance that when the next election season rolls around, Iowa won’t be heading up the charge...and I’m okay with that. If somehow Iowa maintains our place, however, please know that we have all the best intentions and will do our best to represent the nation that we are all unified in our love for. 

Diversity is the cornerstone of the Democratic party, and allowing for more of that to come through by giving another state this privilege is a decision I definitely support.