Iowa’s presidential caucuses are officially scheduled for Jan. 3, 2012, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn announced Monday night following a meeting of the GOP State Central Committee.
The caucuses will begin at 7 p.m.
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“On behalf of over 600,000 Iowa Republicans, I’m excited to announce the first step Iowans will have to replace Barack Obama and his failed presidency will be next January 3 at our First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses,” Strawn said.
“A January 3 date provides certainty to the voters, to our presidential candidates, and to the thousands of statewide volunteers who make the Caucus process a reflection of the very best of our representative democracy,” he said.
Iowans also caucused on Jan. 3 in 2008.
Strawn also expressed support for New Hampshire, which traditionally holds the first-in-the-nation primary.
New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner has not yet selected a date. He is pressuring Nevada to move its caucus, currently scheduled for Jan. 14, later on the calendar.
Five GOP candidates have threatened to boycott the Nevada contest if the state does not move its date.
“Time remains for Nevada to respect the process, honor tradition and rectify the problem in a way that will restore order to the nomination calendar,” Strawn said.
Hannah Hess covers government and politics for IowaPolitics.com, which is owned by the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
