Democrats’ Iowa Primary Results to be Released in March 2024 Election Compromise
By Jarrett Renshaw
The Democratic Party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee has conditionally approved Iowa’s revamped 2024 election primary plan. The plan allows the state to collect mail ballots while still holding its “first in the nation” caucus in January. However, finalizing the results will be delayed until March.
The committee has also issued a warning to New Hampshire, stating that it may strip the state of some of its delegates if it does not comply with the party’s decision to weaken its position in the nominating calendar.
Under the new plan, Iowa Democrats will begin mail ballot registration on November 1st. They will then hold an in-person caucus on January 15th, alongside Republicans. The results for the Democratic race will be released on March 5th, which coincides with Super Tuesday.
The Compromise
The compromise reached honors Iowa’s traditional role in the primary process while acknowledging the need to give more diverse states, such as South Carolina and Michigan, greater influence.
This compromise ensures that Iowa does not face penalties, such as losing delegates or President Biden not being on the ballot. These penalties could have isolated a state that was once highly competitive for Democrats.
However, this compromise may deepen the divide between party leaders and New Hampshire. Biden will need to heal this divide in the 2024 race.
Background
Since 1972, Iowa has held the first in the nation caucus for the Democratic Party. However, earlier this year, President Joe Biden replaced Iowa with South Carolina, a state with a significantly higher number of Black voters. This change played a crucial role in saving Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.
The Democratic National Committee approved this move in February, aiming to give Black voters a greater say in the nominating process and create an easier path for Biden’s expected re-election bid.
Following South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada will hold their primaries one week later, followed by primaries in Georgia and Michigan.
This change reflects a demographic balancing act that the Democratic Party has been striving for over several decades. It comes at the expense of Iowa and New Hampshire, two predominantly white states that rejected Biden in 2020. It also underscores the growing power of the racially diverse coalition that helped bring Biden to power.
Iowa Looks to 2028
Local officials in Iowa have expressed their determination to fight for their first-in-the-nation status. Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, stated that she has received repeated reassurances from the rules and bylaws committee that the presidential nominating calendar discussions will be reopened for 2028.
Hart believes that Iowa will have a strong voice in the selection of the Democratic nominee in 2028, just as it has had for years.
In conclusion, the conditional approval of Iowa’s revamped 2024 election primary plan allows the state to maintain its “first in the nation” caucus status while accommodating the collection of mail ballots. The compromise honors Iowa’s traditional role while ceding influence to more diverse states. This compromise ensures that Iowa does not face penalties and emphasizes the need for party unity as the 2024 race approaches.
