Caucuses, for decades a key part of the Democratic presidential nominating process, were already under scrutiny before the Iowa disaster that delayed results for more than a week after Feb. 3. Now, a former 2020 Democrat says the system should be scrapped altogether.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who quit the 2020 presidential field on Aug. 21 and is seeking a third term as governor, is among the highest-profile advocates of killing the caucus system.
Unlike primary elections where registered voters go to polling places and cast ballots secretly, in caucuses, participants gather at local sites to discuss and vote on the candidates, Inslee said. That not only eliminates the concept of a secret ballot, but it makes participation difficult for anybody who can’t make a caucus at the appointed time.
Caucuses are “exclusionary and anti-ethical,” Inslee, 69, wrote in a fundraising email this week for his gubernatorial bid. Caucuses are “inaccessible for working folks and parents,” keeping participation “way down,” he noted.
The Washington state Democratic Party put an end to caucuses last year, favoring the presidential primary to allocate delegates to candidates. Inslee, a congressman for about 15 years before winning the governorship in 2012, then signed a motion to move the primary from May to March.
Community feedback showed out of more than 12,800 responses, 93.6% leaned toward the switch, party officials said.
Caucuses are exclusionary and antithetical to the inclusive democracy our Democratic Party has been trying to build for years.
That’s why WA decided to end caucuses last year. And that’s why it’s time for more states to follow.
Add your name: https://t.co/Hfx6aCtzl6 pic.twitter.com/mGyJvT38pD
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) February 12, 2020
The caucus system has spurred backlash since the chaos caused by the Iowa app. It caused major delays in results, even triggering concerns and conspiracy theories.
Jeff Smith, former Democratic state senator of Missouri, believes the situation in Iowa will only hasten the demise of caucuses.
“No one wants to go through this again,” said Smith, 46, a former political science professor. “Neither party has shown they can effectively administer a caucus — Republicans in 2012, Dems in 2016, and even more so this year. Unless the state itself takes it over, it shouldn’t continue.”
In the past few years, the caucuses had already begun to dwindle. In 2016, 13 states held caucuses for Democrats and 12 for Republicans. This year for the 2020 Democratic candidates, Iowa will only be joined by Nevada, North Dakota, and Wyoming. As for the Republicans, where President Trump is romping to renomination, Iowa was a one-and-done affair for caucuses.
