Iowa May Lose Its First In The Nation Presidential Contest Status

As the party committees get to work on the 2024 presidential nomination process, Iowa might be losing its title of the first in the nation.

The Iowa caucus’s reputation suffered badly in 2020, especially with the Democrats, due to the lack of racial diversity and the chaos in the vote count last year.

“We have to be honest with ourselves, and Iowa is not representative of America,” former Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez said Friday in an interview. “We need a primary process that is reflective of today’s demographics in the Democratic Party.”

Amid the speculation that Iowa will soon lose its favor as a first in the nation, both Republicans and Democrats in the state said they’ll fight to keep their status.

“Let me be clear, I am going to continue to fight for Iowa’s first in the nation status. I believe Democratic candidates have a real opportunity in Iowa to connect with a diverse electorate that includes voters of color and rural working-class Americans. Iowa also provides the perfect grassroots opportunity for candidates who don’t have the name recognition or funding to breakthrough in larger states,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn said in a statement.

“Iowa Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much, but we do agree in keeping Iowa first in the nation. I have had conversations with Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann and will continue to be in communication with him going forward,” Wilburn added.

Despite Iowa’s lack of diversity, Iowa did support the nation’s first black president, Barack Obama, as well as the first female Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.