Iowa caucuses should have ‘robust turnout’ even amid negative temps, predicts state’s GOP chair

The Iowa Republican Party chair, Jeff Kaufmann, stated that he believes the Monday caucuses will have “a robust turnout” despite the frigid negative temperatures.

Kaufmann told Bloomberg reporters Sunday, “I really think now — as long as there’s not ice that actually makes it impossible to travel and as long as we don’t have whiteout conditions, snow actually falling — I think temperatures are the least of my concern in terms of depressing turnout. Iowans know how to dress for that.”

“We’re cautioning them, of course, but I from what I’m hearing, from what I’m seeing in the rallies, from what I’ve been talking to dozens of committee chairs today and precinct captains, putting out fires here and there, I think it’s going to be a robust turnout,” he continued.

Iowa weather forecasts warned of subzero wind chills. It is expected to be the coldest Iowa caucus on record. According to AccuWeather, the high for the day is zero degrees, and some areas could feel as cold as -30.

Last week, Kaufmann expressed concern that the freezing temperatures could “prevent a record-breaking turnout.”

Caucuses are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. local time. To participate, voters must attend in person. The state’s GOP plans to release the results from its 1,657 precincts in real time. While the unofficial results will be available to the public, the party will not declare a winner on Monday evening.

According to Kaufmann, nearly 10,000 volunteers are assisting with the caucuses this year.

“So we’re very, very confident that we have done everything humanly possible to make sure that this caucus comes off without a hitch,” he stated.

Kaufmann said Iowa has “the most transparent process” in the nation for tallying caucus votes. The process is run by the party and “not a state-run model,” he noted.

“The votes are counted in front of the room,” he explained. “Then the votes are recorded in front of the room. And each candidate can have a representative watching them counted and reported in front of the room.”

Iowa residents must be registered Republicans to vote. However, voters can switch their party registration at caucus sites.

Kaufmann warned voters that they cannot vote in both parties’ caucuses, addressing concerns that some Democrats may try to switch their party affiliation to influence the GOP’s results. He stated that Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird might prosecute those who try to vote twice.

“It is against the law, and she will prosecute, I believe,” he stated. “If a Democrat attempts to do that, and participate in both, that’s against the law, and we’re going to be monitoring that very, very carefully.”

Former President Donald Trump is currently leading in recent Iowa polls, with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vying for second position.

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