The contest will be the first leg of the battle for the GOP presidential nomination between Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and others.
The Iowa GOP announced Saturday that it will hold its first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucus on January 15, 2024, kicking off the party’s bid for the White House slightly earlier than recent nominating fights.
In a statement, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said the party is “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.”
Campaigning for support in Iowa is already well underway: Former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Miami Mayor Francis Saurez and radio host Larry Elder all appeared at campaign events in Iowa last week.
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis also hosted her first solo public event in Johnston, Iowa on Thursday alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Ron DeSantis and other Republicans have been regular presences in the state in recent months.
Since the caucuses are party-run, the Iowa GOP’s decision has no bearing on the Democratic contest in the state. The Democratic National Committee’s decision to shuffle its primary calendar could mean Iowa Democrats may lose their first-in-the-nation caucus status.
The DNC’s new calendar makes the South Carolina primary the party’s first approved nominating contest of 2024, followed later by New Hampshire and Nevada on the same day.