Every four years, the Iowa caucus marks the start of 11 months of campaigning to decide who is the next president of the United States of America. This year sees a new system in place for the Democrat caucus whilst over on the Republican side, GOP candidates scrap with the presence of former US president Donald Trump behind them.
But what is a caucus? How does it differ from an election primary and why does the state of Iowa get to go first? This is Decomplicated.
Check out Decomplicated on Independent TV, across desktop, mobile, and connected TV.
But what is a caucus? How does it differ from an election primary and why does the state of Iowa get to go first? This is Decomplicated.
Check out Decomplicated on Independent TV, across desktop, mobile, and connected TV.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 "The Iowa caucuses."
00:01 "Iowa caucuses."
00:02 "Iowa caucuses."
00:03 "What is his message to voters just ahead of the Iowa caucuses?"
00:06 The starting gun for the past half-century to the U.S. presidential election is the Iowa
00:10 caucus.
00:11 But what exactly is it, and how does it help determine who the next president of the United
00:16 States of America is?
00:18 This is Decomplicated.
00:22 What is a caucus?
00:23 A political caucus is defined as any gathering of people with a shared interest or goal.
00:28 Despite their importance, political caucuses are rarely given as much attention as a primary
00:33 election.
00:34 The term "caucus" originated in 18th-century Boston in reference to a political club, later
00:40 changing to define two distinct influential political organizations, party caucuses and
00:45 legislative caucuses.
00:47 Members of the public gather in caucuses to debate political topics and voice their concerns
00:52 with specific issues.
00:54 The Iowa caucuses are a series of local meetings held throughout the state at which participants
00:58 conduct party business and typically indicate their preference for the presidential nominee
01:03 their party will be placing on November's ballots.
01:08 It's also the first step in a months-long process to select people to serve as delegates
01:13 to the national party conventions in the summer.
01:16 However, don't confuse a caucus for a primary.
01:20 What's the difference?
01:22 Primary elections are conducted like the U.S. elections, at polling booths held throughout
01:26 the day and usually also with absentee and early voting.
01:30 The Iowa caucuses, however, are held in the evening and voters must attend in person to
01:34 take part.
01:39 With everyone there in person, it leads to a rather chaotic experience of trading and
01:43 bartering.
01:46 Caucuses are also run by political parties, whereas primaries are typically run by the
01:50 state itself.
01:52 So why the fuss over the Iowa caucus?
01:55 Since it isn't a traditional election, a candidate's performance in the rural Midwest
01:59 state is often viewed as a test of their campaign's organizational strength and ability to gather
02:04 momentum in attracting voters.
02:07 Why does Iowa go first?
02:10 After violence disrupted their 1968 primary in Chicago, Democrats tried to make the primary
02:15 process more Democratic.
02:17 That, combined with the Iowa legislature moving the caucuses earlier in the year, meant Democratic
02:22 candidate George McGovern won headlines and campaign buzz for winning the Iowa caucus.
02:32 He went on to win the Democratic nomination, but lost against Richard Nixon in the general
02:36 election.
02:37 Does Iowa often predict the eventual winner?
02:41 In what is pretty much a two-horse race for U.S. president, Iowa has a pretty poor record
02:45 for picking the nominees.
02:47 For proof, look at Donald Trump.
02:49 In 2016, he came second, languishing behind evangelical Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
02:57 Neither of Mr. Trump's two predecessors as Republican nominee won the state either.
03:01 George W. Bush was the last non-incumbent Republican president to win both the state
03:06 and the nomination in 2000.
03:08 (END VIDEO CLIP)
03:13 1