Iowa Democrats Push Return Of First Caucuses 2028/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iowa Democrats are lobbying to regain their state’s spot as the first contest in the 2028 presidential primary season. They argue the caucuses are crucial for grassroots candidates and Midwest representation. The DNC remains cautious, citing diversity concerns and Biden’s reshuffled calendar.
Quick Look: Iowa Caucus Debate
- Iowa Democrats push to reclaim first-in-nation caucuses
- Critics say Iowa isn’t diverse enough for early role
- DNC faces tough decisions ahead of 2028 primaries
Iowa Democrats Plot Return of First-in-the-Nation Caucuses for 2028
Deep Look
Iowa Democrats are mounting an effort to reclaim their state’s historic role as the first contest in the presidential primary season, potentially setting up a major showdown with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and reshaping the 2028 race for the White House.
Why It Matters: Restoring Iowa’s caucuses to the leadoff spot could dramatically influence who emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee. For decades, the Iowa caucuses have launched campaigns and turned unknown candidates into frontrunners — propelling figures like Barack Obama, John Kerry, and Jimmy Carter toward the nomination.
But President Joe Biden reshuffled the 2024 calendar to prioritize South Carolina, reflecting both the state’s decisive role in his own 2020 victory and efforts to elevate Black voters in the early process. Iowa’s demotion has left state Democrats determined to reclaim the spotlight.
Driving the News: Iowa state Rep. J.D. Scholten, who is challenging Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, said he wants Iowa’s caucuses restored to their early place in the calendar.
“The beauty of the Iowa caucus is it allows anybody with the right messaging and a good and strong team to win,” Scholten said. “As a party, we need to be expanding the map, and if you look at the Midwest states, we aren’t doing better in places like Iowa.”
Brian Meyer, Democratic leader of the Iowa State Assembly, echoed Scholten’s sentiment, recently telling a PBS affiliate:
“Iowa is the best place to sort out the wheat from the chaff and get us back to where we need to be as a party on the national level.”
What’s Next: Some Iowa Democrats are exploring holding their caucuses first in 2028 — regardless of the DNC’s official schedule — to avoid ceding media attention to Republicans, who will hold their Iowa caucuses as usual.
They point to New Hampshire’s defiance in 2024, when the state went first despite the DNC’s objections. Ultimately, the party seated New Hampshire’s delegates anyway.
Already, 2028 presidential hopefuls seem to be hedging bets that Iowa could reclaim significance. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg held a veterans-focused town hall in Iowa in May, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz visited in March.
Diversity Debate: Critics argue that Iowa, which is more than 80% white, is not representative of the diverse Democratic electorate, particularly Black voters whose support is crucial in Southern states.
Yet party veterans like David Axelrod, who helped engineer Obama’s 2008 Iowa win, believe dismissing Iowa’s early role is a mistake:
“Iowa made the Obama story possible. So I find it ironic when I hear people suggest that the state’s relative lack of diversity should exclude it.”
He added that Democrats must broaden their appeal:
“If Democrats are going to win nationally, they’d better figure out how to win beyond the 10% of counties Kamala Harris won in 2024.”
Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said excluding Iowa in 2024 gave former President Donald Trump a head start:
“We simply can’t afford to be ignored again.”
Flashback: Biden’s team argued that reshuffling the primary calendar was about elevating Black voters’ voices. But insiders admit it was also intended to minimize risks for Biden, who struggled in early 2020 contests, finishing fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire.
Hart signaled a fight ahead with the DNC:
“I do expect to have tough and direct conversations with the DNC regarding our Iowa caucuses, and the serious concerns surrounding the Biden 2024 calendar.”
A DNC spokesperson reaffirmed the party’s stance:
“The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar.”
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