Why Iowa? A Primer on Primaries and Caucuses Teach-Out

In this module, you will learn about caucuses and primaries from four different perspectives. You’ll dive deeper into understanding what delegates and superdelegates are and what role(s) they play, how media coverage has changed over the years and impacts the election cycle, and in what ways the earlier states that participate in primaries and caucuses influence the rest of the process leading up to party nominations. 

Based on what you learn through the videos and readings, you’ll have an opportunity to share with us and your fellow learners what you don’t think works about our current process and offer your own suggestions for how you would change the process, the calendar, and/or how citizens can participate.

Expert Contributors:

• Michael Traugott
• Ken Kollman
• John Chamberlin
• Vincent Hutchings