Iowa GOP Optimistic Republican Caucuses Will Be First in 2024
(Radio Iowa) The Iowa G-O-P’s chairman says a national panel he’s been leading is unanimously backing a report that would secure First-In-The-Nation status for the Iowa Republican Party’s Caucuses in 2024.
“So our very, very critical first step couldn’t have turned out better.” That’s Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann, who’s been chairman of the national party’s Presidential Nominating Process Committee. Kaufmann says the group reviewed options for rearranging the timing of presidential primaries and caucuses, but the final report recommends that no changes be made.
“That, de facto, would leave Iowa as First-in-the-Nation,” Kaufmann says. The report will be presented to the Republican National Committee this summer. Kaufmann says he’s hopeful G-O-P leaders from other states will ratify the plan to have Iowa Caucuses first, followed by New Hampshire’s Primary and contests in Nevada and South Carolina — but he’s not taking it for granted.
“Our lobbying efforts and our explanation and education efforts to the RNC and to the Rules Committee, I’m going to handle this like we’re behind by about 30 votes right now,” Kaufmann says. Last weekend, a group of Democratic National Committee members discussed changes to their presidential nominating process and aired complaints about the caucus process. Kaufmann says he has full faith in Iowa Democratic Party leaders who are making the case that THEIR party’s Caucuses should remain first in 2024.