Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Donate your vehicle during the month of April or May and you'll be entered into a $500 Visa gift card drawing!

Why Iowans Go First In The Race For The Presidency

Supporters listen to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a campaign event at Grand View University January 31, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Sanders hosted his last public campaign event for the Democratic nomination prior to the Iowa caucus on February 1.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Supporters listen to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during a campaign event at Grand View University January 31, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Sanders hosted his last public campaign event for the Democratic nomination prior to the Iowa caucus on February 1. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The folks in the Hawkeye State get first say in the presidential race. Caucus history dates back to the 1968 convention and the anti-war violence in the streets of Chicago. People were fed up with the top-down system for picking presidential nominees. Reforms were passed and Iowa jumped to take advantage, scheduling its caucus first in 1972. Here & Now’s Alex Ashlock looks at the history of Iowa caucuses.

Reporter

  • Alex Ashlock, producer and reporter for Here & Now, currently on the road in Iowa. He tweets @aashlock.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.