Here’s What to Know About Tonight’s Iowa Caucuses

More than 1,700 Iowa precincts will hold caucuses on the evening of Jan. 15. It is the first election facing the Republican Party’s presidential hopefuls.

More than 800 supporters listen to former President Donald Trump deliver a pre-caucus speech at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 2024. Gary Du/NTD

It’s finally here. After several months of campaigning, hundreds of appearances by Republicans across the state, and dozens of polls, the Republican Party of Iowa will hold its caucuses on the evening of Jan. 15.

The caucuses are the first national election of presidential hopefuls. The Hawkeye State’s GOP will choose between four major Republican candidates: former President Donald Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

How Does the Caucus Work?

While the Iowa caucuses date back to the 19th century, the modern form of the quadrennial event began in 1972.