Bring back the Iowa caucuses

A couple of weeks ago, the Iowa Democratic Party issued a survey asking voters if they should return to the tradition of holding the presidential caucus as first in the nation.

If we want to truly promote party-building, we need to be serious about bringing back the presidential caucuses.

We know when Iowa Democrats put their minds to something, change can happen. Just look at Catelin Drey’s success in Senate District 1, where she flipped a seat that previously went for Trump. By bucking the rules imposed by the Democratic National Committee, Iowa Democrats will be better equipped to make changes in our state, bringing back balance from the local to the national levels.

Iowa Democrats need the kind of national visibility that the presidential caucuses once brought.

When Iowa was first in the nation, candidates had to take seriously the concerns of rural America. Iowa values are the values of working-class America, and we deserve to have our voices heard.

And let’s face it: the coasts do not understand what’s important to Iowa voters.

By stripping Iowa of its first in the nation status, the Democratic National Committee has ensured that candidates no longer have to understand our issues. It means seeing more federal candidates who are out of touch with Middle America.

When I campaigned for the Iowa House in District 92 last year, I found many voters felt disenchanted with the national party. This apathy stems largely from the National Democratic Party abandoning Iowa, along with the rest of rural America.

If we want to elect Iowa Democrats, we also need to invoke change at the national level, by returning to the tradition of holding presidential caucuses as first in the nation. Even if that means going rogue from the DNC.

Now, I am not originally from Iowa; I moved here for graduate school. From what I learned as a student, I can say that the presidential caucuses are unique and ought to be preserved. I remember sitting in political science courses, absolutely fascinated by the true democracy I saw presented in Iowa. People had to show up, and they had to work together to reach a consensus. Nowhere else do we see this sort of action at work during the presidential primary process.

As a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, I got to be part of a political process that began at last year’s modified presidential caucus. While the county and district conventions still allowed for some deliberation, particularly when it came to creating the party platform, it was a far cry from the process that previously occurred, even before Biden dropped out of the race.

I want future Iowans to have the opportunity to experience presidential caucuses in their true form: an assembly of voters sharing both their concerns and their hopes for the future.

In my mind, the presidential caucuses offer a purer form of democracy than what we see elsewhere. A time and place in which all voters can make their concerns known to the public, and in which communities can come together and solve issues.

We also know that the presidential caucus in 2020 led to record turnout by young voters. Young people want to participate, and they care deeply about Iowa — they just don’t feel like their voices are being heard.

If we want to really give a voice to Iowa voters, the IDP needs to consider going rogue and reinstating the caucus.

Let’s get back to community, and show America how Iowa gets things done.

Anna Banowsky was the 2024 Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 92 and served as an Iowa delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2024. She lives in Washington, IA.