Republican Party Delegate Selection to Iowa’s Caucuses and Conventions
-- A How to Guide --
Serving as a delegate to one or more of Iowa’s caucuses or conventions is truly a unique and interesting endeavor. The process avails the participant of one of this country’s truly grassroots participatory political practices. Below you will find a simple guide to the process of Caucus Participant to Delegate to the Republican National Convention. All of Iowa’s registered Republicans are availed the opportunity to actively participate in the process.
Please consider joining the ranks of thousands of Iowans who work to make their voices heard during this unique process.
The levels at which you may serve are as follows:
Step One: Attend
your
precinct caucus. Each of Iowa’s
precincts conducts a precinct
caucus at the beginning of each election year. The
caucus
is typically held in January, but no later than
mid-February. Iowa law mandates
that each party find locations for all precincts and that the caucus
locations
be listed in the primary newspapers servicing your county during the
two weeks
immediately preceding the scheduled dates of the caucuses.
Volunteer for or have someone
nominate you to serve as a delegate to your county’s Republican
Convention. During a
non-presidential year, many precincts are “looking” for people
interested in
serving as county delegates. The
process is more difficult during presidential election years,
especially if the
Republican nomination is contested.
In order to better ensure your election, invite as many friends
(who
live in your precinct) to attend the caucus with you as possible. Ask them to support your nomination and
vote for you after nominations cease.
Step Two: Make sure that you actually attend
your county
convention. It is much more
difficult to proceed to the next level of delegate participation if you
fail to
attend the conventions to which you have been nominated to serve. Be prepared to have someone nominate
you to serve at the next level (District and State Delegate) or contact
the
nomination
committee to determine what must be done to have your name
put
into consideration. Your local
County GOP Chair can tell you who sits on the nomination committee.
Counties nominate and elect the next level of delegates directly from the floor of their county convention. Some counties prepare a slate to be presented to the county convention delegates for their approval. Typically this partial slate would include state legislators, county supervisors and elected officials. It is imperative that you contact your county GOP chair to determine the exact method of this process.
Step Three: If you are elected at your County Republican Convention to serve as a District Delegate, you automatically serve as a delegate to the State Convention. Attend your District Caucus (convention). If it is a Presidential election year and you wish to run to serve as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, your efforts should begin during this meeting. Let people know of your interest in serving as a National Delegate. Begin campaigning at this meeting for your election at the Presidential Caucus (Convention). People who wish to serve in this capacity must be willing to campaign; send out letters to the delegates, distribute information sheets regarding your skills and qualifications to serve during the District events.
Step Four: If this is a Presidential year and you
wish to seek a seat as a National Delegate, you should attend your District
Presidential
Caucus (Convention).
This meeting is always held the Friday evening before the state
convention. Have someone
prepared to nominate you (this speech is normally limited to 1 minute)
from the
floor and someone prepared to second the nomination (usually no speech
allowed). Be prepared to
give a short speech to the delegation (usually between 3 and 5 minutes).
Make sure you arrive early to distribute your campaign material. Some individuals actually take the time
and effort to contact each of the delegates by phone or mail prior to
the day
of the elections. Twelve (12)
delegates – 3 from each congressional district are elected in this
fashion.
Step Five: A nominating committee will be elected during the District Caucus (convention); two members from each congressional district. This nominating committee is commissioned with the task of putting a slate together to be elected as “at-large” delegates. This at-large slate is presented to the delegates prior to the state convention and the convention delegates have the opportunity to approve or decline this slate at a specified time during the convention. Contact someone from the Republican Party of Iowa to ask who is serving on the nominating committee. If you were unsuccessful in your attempts at the District Presidential Caucus (convention), you may still lobby the nomination committee to place your name on the slate. You should be aware, however, that the slate typically consists of elected officials and Republican leaders and one’s best opportunity to serve as a National Delegate comes at the District Presidential Caucus (convention).
Step Six: Congratulations if you have made it through the process and have been successfully elected as a National Delegate. This is an elite group of people, usually only 25-35 Republicans are honored in this way. The National Convention is typically held in late summer (less likely in the beginning of September) of a Presidential election year. As a delegate, please be aware that you are responsible for the cost of the entire convention. It is typical for the convention expenses to run from $1500 to $3000 depending on the delegate hotel assignment and what type of meals you eat. Have fun and enjoy the experience!
Simplified Step by Step