Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:59 pm
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has recently announced the date for the 2024 Republican Iowa Caucus, scheduled for January 15.
The decision was made during a meeting of the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa, where members unanimously voted to hold the upcoming presidential caucus on this date.
The choice of January 15 holds significance as it falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. This selection, noted by Politico, marks a departure from the past two primary cycles when the caucuses were held in early February.
However, it is a couple of weeks later than the caucuses in 2012 and 2008, which took place just days after New Year’s Day.
The RNC’s decision is expected to set off a series of actions as other early states, such as New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, will now align their primary dates based on Iowa’s newly-released plan.
Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann issued the following statement in response:
"The Republican Party of Iowa is proud to announce that we will officially hold our 2024 First-in-the-Nation Caucus on January 15, 2024. "After our state legislature and governor took needed action earlier this year to preempt Iowa Democrats' plans to derail the Iowa Caucus by running a de facto primary election instead, we are also proud to affirm that Iowa will continue to honor our half-century-old promises to the other carve-out states.
The implications of this scheduling change, along with the Democrats’ efforts to reorder their primary calendar, remain uncertain. While Democrats are considering placing South Carolina at the front of their primary calendar instead of Iowa, the exact consequences for the 2024 primary season are yet to be determined. However, if Joe Biden remains the Democratic nominee, the changes in the Democratic primary calendar may not have a significant impact.
In line with historical precedence, the GOP primary calendar adheres to Iowa voting first, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada, and then South Carolina. This traditional order will continue before the “Super Tuesday” event, where several states hold their primaries.
"We remain committed to maintaining Iowa's cherished First-in-the-Nation Caucuses, and look forward to holding a historic caucus in the coming months and defeating Joe Biden come November 2024." Said Jeff Kaufmann
Last month, South Carolina Republicans have already confirmed February 24 as their first southern primary date, allowing Nevada to schedule its caucuses without conflicting with New Hampshire.
While the Iowa Caucus is still six months away, recent polls indicate that former President Trump maintains a significant lead in the state. However, as with any election, the landscape can evolve, and it is important to track any changes in the 2024 primary schedule.
For full details and an updated list of primary date changes, it is recommended to follow the 2024 Primary Schedule.