If a Democrat doesn’t win the presidency this year — or if Iowans throw their support next week to a candidate who does not go on to win the nomination — some party officials say that the backlash would jeopardize the state’s first-in-the-nation status.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Bruised feelings from Julián Castro’s criticism this fall that Iowa is too white and too unrepresentative of the Democratic Party to go first in the nominating process have been replaced by spreading fears here that critics could get their way in 2024.
Following a meeting of his county party on Monday, Bagniewski said concerns about Iowa’s relevance have added a new layer of anxiety to caucusgoers already torn over questions about which candidate they prefer and which candidate they think can defeat President Donald Trump. Iowa has weathered criticism about its lack of diversity every election cycle, always prevailing. The state’s small size is appealing to many Democrats because it forces candidates to interact with voters personally, benefiting contenders who do not start with large fundraising bases. Iowans famously show up to see even long-shot candidates at their events.
“We may not be diverse, but we vote diverse,” Nagle said. “One of the leading contenders right now is an openly gay mayor [Pete Buttigieg]. We’ve nominated a woman [Hillary Clinton], we’ve nominated an African American.” "You know what, people use Obama for everything: 'This is supposed to be our evidence of a post racial America,'" Pressley said in an interview, referring to the arguments made after Obama was elected. "Ultimately, whether we're talking about racial justice or leadership parity or political representation, it's not about these exceptional anomalies and one-offs. It's about system change.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Joe Biden to Iowa Democrats: Ruin Joni Ernst's night by caucusing for me"You can ruin Donald Trump’s night by caucusing for me, and you can ruin Joni Ernst’s night as well," Joe Biden said in Muscatine, Iowa, Tuesday.
Read more »
Democrats’ Iowa endgame overshadowed by Trump dramaAs the Democratic candidates make their final pitches to Iowa caucus-goers, Trump’s impeachment trial, campaign rally and State of the Union create an unavoidable backdrop.
Read more »
Trump slams Democrats in Iowa days before the caucusesWith Iowans holding their first-in-the nation caucuses Monday, President Trump has been increasingly seeking to rival key moments in the Democratic contest with rallies of his own.
Read more »
How high school students in Iowa are learning and preparing to caucusThe youth vote could have a big impact on the next election. NBC News’ Maura Barrett caught up with a group of young voters in Iowa, the first caucus state, as they get ready to vote.
Read more »
Buttigieg Campaign Faces Personnel Issues as Iowa Caucuses ApproachPete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign is dealing with some departures in the closing days before the Iowa caucuses, as its head of talent and cybersecurity aides have left, and it still faces questions about staffer diversity, say people familiar with the matter.
Read more »