Iowa Caucus 2024: What to know

The 2024 Iowa Caucuses for both Republicans and Democrats are set for Monday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. 

Republicans will forward plank proposals for the County Platform to the Platform Committee, elect delegates to the County Convention, elect representatives to the County Central Committee and conduct a Presidential Poll while Democrats will elect unbound delegates and alternate delegates to county conventions, elect county central committee members and discuss platform resolutions that can be shared at county conventions. 

No Presidential preference will be taken at the in-person Democratic precinct caucuses. Democrats wishing to cast a presidential preference vote can do so by mail. To request a ballot, go online to iowademocrats.org/caucus and fill out information or download a printable form that can be mailed. 

Participants in Republican Caucuses must be registered Republicans to participate and be at least 18 years old on Nov. 5, 2024 (election day). They may register as Republicans the night of the Caucus. Participants in Democratic Caucuses or the Presidential Preference Poll must be registered Democrats to participate and be at least 18 years old on Nov. 5, 2024 (election day). They must be registered as a Democrat by Feb. 19, 2024 to cast a presidential preference vote. 

Candidate Profiles 

Information in the following candidate profiles is sourced from a variety of resources, including campaign Web sites, past interviews with media, social media posts and non-partisan political aggregation Web sites. 

 

REPUBLICAN PROFILES 

Ryan Binkley 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State – Texas 

Age – 56 

Education – Texas McCombs School of Business/M.A., Southern Methodi s t University 

Occupation – Businessman/ Pastor 

Campaign Web site – 

binkley2024.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Binkley calls himself strongly pro-life and has said he was thankful when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. He is also a strong supporter of adoption. 

Climate — Binkley has come out in support of developing affordable and dependable green energy. He has accused U.S. leaders of focusing on policies that are too expensive and that do not deliver results. 

Crime — Binkley has been critical of efforts to reduce funding for police and law enforcement. He has called for additional training for police to help efforts to engage people with mental illness. 

Economy — Binkley has said that reigning in federal spending and putting an end to excessive borrowing is key to grow the U.S. economy and save the U.S. Dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency. 

Education — Binkley has shown support for reforming the Department of Education and has said the U.S. could improve its educational system by offering additional school choice options, including additional vocational training options. 

Health Care — Binkley has accused insurance companies and hospitals of spiking costs for patients. He has suggested that companies and hospitals should have to compete for business, allowing Americans to select health care that works best for them. He has also called for more transparency in health care pricing and lower costs for prescription medication. 

Foreign Policy — One of Binkley’s top foreign policy goals would be to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities. He has shown support for the U.S. relationship with Israel and has suggested diplomatic solutions to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. 

Immigration — Binkley has suggested using physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, technology and personnel along the border to reduce illegal immigration. He said he would also provide some illegal immigrants the chance to achieve legal status if they meet certain requirements. 

 

Chris Christie 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State – New Jersey 

Age – 61 

Education – University of Delaware/Seton Hall University School of Law 

Occupation – Governor of New Jersey (2010-2018) 

Other significant experience – U.S. Attorney for District of New Jersey (2002-2008) 

Campaign Web site – chrischristie.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Christie has come out against a federal abortion ban though, during his 2015 run for the presidency, he backed a 20-week federal ban on abortion. He also supports exceptions to restrictions on abortion in the case of rape or incest and to support the safety of a parent. 

Climate — Christie agrees that climate change is real and that humans are at least partially to blame for it. He feels the U.S. should expand production of all energy sources, including coal, nuclear, ethanol, solar and wind. He is one of two candidates who feels the way to confront climate change is to confront other nations about it and is against the Paris Climate Accord. Christie supports carbon capture and sequestration and stands against incentives for domestic clean energy production. 

Crime — Christie has called for a target on crime in larger cities. He has said that police need to be better trained on mental health issues. He feels gun violence could be controlled better if prosecutors arrest violent criminals. 

Economy — Christie is generally in favor of Federal Reserve policies and has credited it with controlling inflation. He has also talked about reigning in government spending and has backed Social Security reform. 

Education — Christie has come out as a vocal opponent of teacher unions and is a supporter of increased school choice, including charter schools. 

Foreign Policy — Christie has said the U.S. should support both Israel and Ukraine. He has traveled to Ukraine and spoke of the inhumanity that he witnessed. He is against severing economic ties with China. 

Health Care — Christie has placed a heavy emphasis on the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. He has come out against state laws that ban gender-affirming care for transgender children. 

Immigration — Christie has come out in favor of several border security policies, including large-scale deportations, sending U.S. troops to the Mexican border and deputizing local law enforcement and the National Guard to protect the border. He is also in favor of completing the wall at the U.S. – Mexican border. 

 

Ron DeSantis 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State - Florida 

Age – 45 

Education – Yale Universty/ Harvard Law School 

Occupation – Governor of Florida (2019-present) 

Other significant experience – U.S. Representative (2013-2018) 

Campaign Web site – 

rondesantis.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — DeSantis has stated that he supports a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks and signed a six-week state-level abortion ban when he was Governor of Florida that included exceptions for rape, incest and if the mother’s life was in danger. 

Climate — DeSantis feels the U.S. should expand production of natural gas, oil and nuclear energy, though he has not come out in favor of the use of coal or expanded ethanol production. He has come out against the Paris Climate Accord and has shown support for carbon capture and sequestration. He has said climate change is real, though he feels humans are not to blame for it. 

Crime — As governor of Florida, DeSantis signed anti-crime legislation that pushed back against bail reform and increased prison sentences for drug traffickers. He is against most gun control measures and has called for institutionalizing more people who have mental health concerns. 

Economy — DeSantis has been critical of the Federal Reserve for failing to control interest rates and has said it printed too much money during the COVID-19 pandemic. He sees the Reserve as having a limited role of maintaining stable prices and said it has departed from that with policies over the past several years. He is in favor of Social Security reform and has said the U.S. should limit its economic ties with China. 

Education — While governor of Florida, DeSantis signed legislation prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender rights. He has spoken against critical race theory and signed a bill banning it in schools. He has also rejected some high school advance placement courses. 

Foreign Policy — DeSantis has shown support for Israel in its war against Hamas but has said the U.S. should focus more resources on domestic issues than sending them to Ukraine. He has come out in favor of severing economic ties with China, calling the threat from Beijing equal or greater than the one posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. 

Health Care — DeSantis strongly opposed many efforts that were used to control the COVID-19 pandemic and has indicated that he would not allow government entities to implement lockdowns. As governor, he was also against vaccine and mask mandates. If elected president, he has said that he would cut funding for COVID vaccines. He has also proposed raising the age for Medicare eligibility. 

Immigration — DeSantis has come out in favor of a variety of methods for border security including large-scale deportations, sending the military to the border, expanding ICE detention and deputizing local law enforcement and the National Guard. He is also in favor of finishing the border wall and has come out in favor of sending the U.S. military into Mexico to fight drug cartels. 

 

Nikki Haley 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State – South Carolina 

Age - 51 

Educat ion – Clemson University 

Occupation – Ambassador to United Nations (2017-2018) 

Other significant experience – Governor of South Carolina (2011-2017); State Representative (2005-2011) 

Campaign Web site – 

nikkihaley.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Haley is pro-life, supporting a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks. As governor of South Carolina she signed a 20-week abortion ban that included an exception to save a mother’s life but that did not include exceptions for rape and incest. 

Climate — Haley agrees that climate change is real, though she feels humans are not to blame for it. She believes in U.S. energy independence and is in favor of increased oil and natural gas production, though she has not come out in favor of increased ethanol production. She is against the Paris Climate Accord and feels the United States should confront other nations such as India and China in an effort to control climate change. She supports carbon capture and sequestration and said she would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Crime — While governor, Haley launched programs aimed at reducing prison recidivism including one that helped those convicted of crimes find jobs. She has indicated favor for programs that support law enforcement and getting illegal guns off the street. 

Economy — Haley has said that the main role of the Federal Reserve is to protect the strength of the U.S. dollar. She has cited her college accounting degree when she speaks about controlling government spending. She has come out in favor of Social Security reform and has also proposed additional cuts to taxes. She is also in favor of limiting U.S. economic ties to China. 

Education — Haley is in favor of reducing the size of the Department of Education and has said she would prevent the agency from controlling how states allocate federal aid. She is in favor of school choice programs and in favor of programs that increase parental involvement in schools. 

Foreign Policy — Haley has shown support for Israel and also for sending additional military aid to Ukraine, saying that aid to Ukraine is vital to American security and to preventing Russia from aggressively moving on other European nations. She has also come out in favor of helping Taiwan prepare militarily for what she calls an inevitable invasion from China. 

Health Care — Haley opposes the Affordable Care Act and refused to expand Medicare benefits covered by the law while governor of South Carolina. She has proposed changing Medicare for younger Americans and has suggesting limiting the program for wealthy Americans. 

Immigration — Haley has come out in favor of large-scale deportations at the Mexican border and has also come out in favor of sending the military to the border. She believes in increasing border patrol and CBP funding and is in favor of completing the wall at the U.S.-Mexican border. 

 

Asa Hutchinson 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State - Arkansas 

Age - 73 

Education – Bob Jones University/Arkansas School of Law 

Occupation – Governor of Arkansas (2015-2023) 

Other significant experience – Under Secretary, Homeland Security (2003- 2005); Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration (2001-2003) 

Campaign Web site – 

asa2024.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Hutchinson has come out in support of a federal ban on abortions that would include exceptions for victims of incest, rape and those with life-threatening medical conditions. He also, however, has admitted that the debate on the issue will likely play out on the state level for the time being. 

Climate — Hutchinson believes that climate change is real and that humans have had a role in it. He has opposed government-mandated efforts to reduce carbon emissions and has supported fossil fuels. He has also shown some support for clean energy resources. He has shown support for lifting restrictions on pipelines, drilling and nuclear power. 

Crime — Hutchinson has said that crime is an issue in all communities, both big and small. He has called for increased access to addiction counseling as a way to address drug problems and has expressed support for reforming federal law enforcement. 

Economy — Hutchinson said balancing the national budget and creating a surplus should be two critical policies for the federal government. He has called for reducing the number of federal employees and cutting money spent on personnel. He has also called for instituting work requirements for those receiving welfare. 

Education — Hutchinson has said he would sign a bill eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, giving states and local governments more say in the way students are taught. He has also criticized President Biden’s efforts to forgive student loans. 

Health Care — Hutchinson has called for expanded mental health resources. He said addressing the opioid epidemic would be one of his top priorities and said he would improve education about addiction while expanding treatment options and reducing drug trafficking from other countries. 

Foreign Policy — Hutchinson has come out in support of military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia and has called for support for Israel as the country fights its war with Hamas. He said he supports a trade relationship with China though he would attempt to dial down American reliance on the country. 

Immigration — Hutchinson has called for an increase in border patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexican border and has suggested that asylum seekers should apply for humanitarian assistance from the first country they reach and not wait until they reach the United States. He said he would eliminate the right of citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants. 

 

Vivek Ramaswamy 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

Home State - Ohio 

Age – 38 

Education – Harvard College 

Occupation – Executive Chairman, Strive Asset Management (2022-2023) 

Other significant experience – CEO, Roivant Sciences (2014-2021) 

Campaign Web site – vivek2024.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Ramaswamy has come out against a federal abortion ban, though he has said he supports six-week abortion bans that have been approved by several states. He supports exceptions to abortion restrictions in the case of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger. 

Climate — Ramaswamy is a strong advocate for fossil fuels, saying that they are a requirement for human prosperity. He feels the United States should confront climate change by expanding domestic energy production and has come out against the Paris Climate Accord. 

Crime — Ramaswamy has said he would shut down the FBI, among many other government agencies, if elected president. He has backed police officers while on the campaign trail and believes it should be harder to sue law enforcement agencies. He has advocating for institutionalizing those with mental illnesses when necessary. 

Economy — Ramaswamy has been critical of the Federal Reserve’s role in balancing inflation, saying that it should instead work to strengthen the U.S. Dollar. He is in favor of limiting U.S. economic ties to China. 

Education — Ramaswamy has called for shutting down the Department of Education and redistributing money used to run the program to parents. He has advocated for school choice programs. 

Foreign Policy — Ramaswamy has been critical of Israel’s government and initially suggested that the U.S. phase out its aid to the nation. He has also been critical of the U.S. sending aid to Ukraine and has suggested that Ukraine cede territory to Russia to end the war. 

Health Care — Ramaswamy has called for increased mental health programs, particularly through faith communities and has called for lower prescription drug costs. He is against the Affordable Care Act and has said he regrets having taken the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Immigrat ion — Ramaswamy has shown support for completing the wall at the U.S.-Mexican border and is in favor of both large-scale deportations and sending the military to the border. He is also in favor of expanding ICE detention and deputizing local law enforcement and the National Guard to patrol the border. 

 

Donald Trump 

Party Affiliation - Republican 

State of Residence - Florida 

Age – 77 

Education – University of Pennsylvania 

Occupation – President of the United States (2017-2021) 

Other significant experience – Chairman, Trump Organization (1971-2017) 

Campaign Web site – 

donaldjtrump.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Trump has been non-committal on a federal abortion ban. Though he supported a 20-week federal ban while serving as president, he has since come out against a federal ban. He has criticized six-week bans enacted by several states as being too restrictive. He supports exceptions to abortion bans in the case of rape, incest and to protect the safety of the mother. 

Climate — Trump has said he feels climate change is real and that humans have had at least some part in it. He is in favor of expanded natural gas, oil and nuclear energy use but has not come out in favor of expanded coal or ethanol production. He is in favor of increased domestic energy production as a way to confront climate change and has shown support for carbon capture and sequestration. He withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord while in office and has said he would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives for clean energy production that have been backed by President Biden. 

Crime — During his term as president, Trump signed the First Step Act into law, which allowed the early release of people convicted of certain crimes and reduced the sentences for others. He also issued several pardons and commutations while in office. Trump is in favor of increased powers for police. 

Economy — Trump has admitted that, while president, he pressured Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell to drop interest rates. He is in favor of tax cuts in addition to those that were passed while he was in office and is also in favor of limiting economic ties with China. 

Education — Trump has been critical of President Biden’s attempts to cancel student loan debt. He has proposed giving parents more power over local schools, including the right to elect school administrators, and has praised Supreme Court rulings targeting affirmative action programs in higher education. 

Foreign Policy — Trump has not taken a strong stance on aid to Ukraine. He has been critical of Israel. He is in favor of cutting economic ties with China. 

Health Care — While president, Trump unsuccessfully attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He signed legislation to increase funding for substance abuse treatment and called the opioid epidemic and public health emergency. More recently he has taken aim at fentanyl and at Mexican drug cartels. 

Immigration — The United States began building its border wall along the Mexican border while Trump was president and he supports continuing to build it. He is also in favor of sending the military to the border, increasing Border Patrol funding and expanding ICE detention. He is in favor of large-scale deportations and using both local law enforcement and the National Guard to patrol the border. He is also in favor of sending the U.S. military into Mexico to fight drug cartels. 

 

 

DEMOCRATIC PROFILES 

Joe Biden 

Party Affiliation - Democrat 

Home State - Delaware 

Age - 81 

Education – University of Delaware/Syracuse University Law School 

Occupation – President of the United States (2021-present) 

Other significant experience – Vice -President of the United States (2009-2017); U.S. Senator (1973-2009) 

Campaign Web site - 

joebiden.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Biden supports access to abortion and the rights provided by Roe v. Wade before it was struck down by the Supreme Court. He has supported access to the abortion medication mifepristone and has fought to protect access to reproductive care for service members. 

Climate — Biden has been adamant in his belief in the impacts of climate change. He has announced the creation of a Climate Corps, which will train young people who want to take on the climate crisis. He has also set a goal of reducing American greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030 and of making the American power sector carbon pollution free by 2035. The Biden administration has also shown widespread support for electric vehicles. 

Economy — Biden has sought to distance himself from those calling for the defunding of police and has expressed concern about rising crime rates in some areas. He has called on Congress to reinstate a ban on assault weapons and has proposed additional funding to help law enforcement fight gun violence. 

Economy — Biden’s economic plan has included the post-pandemic American Rescue Plan and funding for infrastructure projects and climate initiatives. 

Education — As president, Biden has attempted to address student debt, though many of his efforts have been challenged or overturned in court. He has attacked state legislation that bars instruction on gender identity or sexuality and has denounced book bans. 

Foreign Policy — Biden has called on Congress to provide additional aid to Ukraine as it battles the Russian invasion and has supported Israel in its war against Hamas. 

Health Care — Biden has called health care a right, not a privilege, for Americans and has sought to cap insulin prices at $35 per month. He has also proposed changes to private Medicare plans. 

Immigration — Biden has sought to crack down on illegal immigration while broadening legal pathways for immigrants from countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. 

 

Dean Phillips 

Party Affiliation - Democrat 

Home State - Minnesota 

Age – 54 

Education – Brown University/M.A., University of Minnesota 

Occupation – U.S. Representative (2019-present) 

Other significant experience – C.E.O., Phillips Distilling Company (2000-2012) 

Campaign Web site – dean24.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Phillips identifies himself as a supporter of abortion rights and has said there is no role for government in telling women what they can do. He supported legislation to codify Roe v. Wade and has called for protecting the rights of women seeking reproductive health care in states other than the ones they live in. 

Climate — Phillips has warned that without action on climate change, human survival is at risk. He has pushed for the United States to address the crisis on a global scale and has supported President Biden’s push to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. 

Crime — Phillips has been a champion for law enforcement throughout his time in Congress and has been vocal in efforts to improve law enforcement recruiting efforts. He has described himself as a responsible gun owner but has also supported gun violence prevention measures, including an assault weapons ban and enhanced background checks. 

Economy — Phillips is a former business owner and pushes what he describes as a pro-business and pro-worker economic platform. He supports allowing Americans to take tax deductions for childcare, eldercare and grocery costs and played a role in the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which provided funding to businesses for payroll expenses during the pandemic. 

Education — Phillips has called for a service-based approach to canceling student debt to help people enter careers such as teaching, nursing and law enforcement. For other student borrowers, he has argued for zero-interest loans. He has supported funding for universal preschool and mentoring programs for new teachers. 

Health Care — Phillips has supported policies to protect and expand on the Affordable Care Act and sponsored legislation that would have allowed Americans to buy into their states’ Medicare program. He has also supported programs that seek to lower patient costs for both prescription drugs and care. 

Foreign Policy — Phillips has supported Israel’s war efforts against Hamas and has advocated for a two-state solution to address the concerns of Israelis and Palestinians. He has also been a vocal supporter of increased military aid for Ukraine. 

Immigration — Phillips is in favor of enhanced security at the border that includes the use of satellites and human resources. He supports a pathway to citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. 

 

Marianne Williamson 

Party Affiliation - Democrat 

Home State - California 

Age - 71 

Education – Two years at Pomona College 

Occupation – Author 

Other significant experience – Founder, Project Angel Food 

Campaign Web site – 

marianne2024.com 

Major policy stances 

Abortion — Williamson has called for codifying Roe v. Wade into law, establishing the right to abortion in all states. She has said she would boost funding for Planned Parenthood and local abortion clinics and create a federal program to help people access contraception. 

Climate — Williamson has suggested that climate change is much bigger in scale than many people feel it is. She said she would enact an effort to reach 100 percent renewable energy and lower carbon emissions by 2025. She has called for reallocating fossil fuel subsidies into wind and solar energy. She would also ban all fracking operations. 

Crime — Williamson has said she would take a holistic approach to address problems that lead to crime. She would increase the number of social workers and create programs to provide healthcare and other services for children. She would also fund programs that would help law enforcement repair relationships with their communities. 

Economy — Williamson has advocated for an economic bill of rights that would include the right to a job that pays a living wage and the right to affordable housing. She has also called for a nationwide goal to eliminate poverty and expand social safety net programs for those with low incomes. She has proposed a $15 federal minimum wage and has suggested that the government invest in care programs and drug pricing. 

Education — Williamson has called for free tuition for students attending public colleges and universities, including community colleges and historically black colleges and universities. She has also called for free trade school tuition for certain professions and would forgive all federal and private student debt. 

Health Care — Williamson supports universal health care that would replace coverage from private health insurance companies. She would push for lower prescription costs and would prioritize health and wellness initiatives including healthy eating, exercise and the reduction of water and air pollution. 

Foreign Policy — Williamson has called for efforts to end conflicts, coordinate humanitarian assistance and create a U.S. Peace Academy that would work with the U.S. Military Academy. She has also proposed a program that would shift military investments to building schools and infrastructure. 

Immigration — Williamson has proposed a path to citizenship for all immigrants living in the United States who have not violated major laws. She has also called for the expansion of the number of Visas for those wishing to immigrate to the United States and has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 

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