Iowa Caucus

The Iowa caucuses are an electoral event in which residents of the U.S. state of Iowa meet in precinct caucuses in all of Iowa's 1,682 precincts and elect delegates to the corresponding county conventions. There are 99 counties in Iowa and thus 99 conventions.

The Iowa Caucuses are noteworthy for the amount of media attention they receive during U.S. presidential election years. Since 1972, the Iowa caucuses have been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States. The Iowa caucuses have served as an early indication of which candidates for President may win the nomination at that party's national convention. The 2008 Caucuses were pivotal to President Barack Obama’s campaign.

These county conventions then select delegates for both Iowa's Congressional District Convention and the State Convention, which eventually choose the delegates for the presidential nominating conventions (the national conventions). The 2016 Iowa Caucuses are scheduled for February 1, 2016. 

With the importance of the 2016 Iowa Caucuses, the Greater Des Moines Partnership has joined the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Iowa Economic Development Authority, The Des Moines Register, Drake University and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs in the creation of the Iowa Caucus Consortium. In partnership with the Iowa Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa, the Consortium aims to highlight Iowa’s first in the nation Caucus status and provide the media, candidates, and visitors a meaningful, positive experience while showcasing the state and region. The Consortium aims to do this by providing educational and informational resources, hosting Caucus-related events and facilitating collaboration among local organizations and leaders.

For more information on the Iowa Caucuses, visit IowaCaucus.org and follow @IAcaucus2016 or #iacaucus on Twitter. 

Newsletter

Sign up for the Iowa Caucus Consortium's Events Newsletter to find out about the latest Caucus-related events as well as Caucus resources.

Links to more information about the Iowa Caucus and Iowa Caucus Consortium partners

Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Des Moines Register
Drake University
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Iowa Republican Party
Iowa Democratic Party

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is a non-partisan economic and community development organization that does not endorse any political candidates or donate funding to any political candidate campaigns.