Chuck Grassley says Iowa Democrats should hold caucuses first regardless of DNC decision

Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Iowa Democrats should "definitely" continue to hold a first-in-the-nation presidential contest regardless of whether national Democrats remove the state from its place at the front of the nominating calendar.

"Iowa is a unique place where people with little money can campaign for president and get to be president," Grassley said Wednesday on a call with Iowa reporters. "I think two Democrats were made president because of Iowa."

Grassley was referring to presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, whose Iowa caucus wins in 1976 and 2008 catapulted the lesser-known candidates to the presidency.

Iowa has kicked off the presidential nominating process for 50 years, with Democrats and Republicans alike devoting outsized time, energy and money to campaigning in the state.

While Republicans are committed to a 2024 presidential nominating calendar that cements Iowa's place as first in the nation, national Democrats are considering changes to the party's nominating schedule that likely would result in Iowa going later.

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet this week to vote on a new nominating calendar that could give states such as New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan and Minnesota the chance to hold the first contests.

More: Democrats set to vote on presidential primaries and end Iowa's reign as first in the nation

"I hope the Democrats aren't stupid enough to move first in the nation out of Iowa," Grassley said.

Committee members have said they prefer states that hold state-run primary elections, have a diverse electorate and are competitive general election battlegrounds.

Iowa's 2020 Democratic caucuses were plagued by technology problems that delayed reporting its results by several days. The state also is largely white and has been dominated by Republicans in recent elections.

But Grassley said Obama's victory showed that a Black candidate could do well with voters, even in a state that isn't very diverse.

"I think that ought to be taken into consideration by the Democrats," Grassley said.

More: Who won previous Democratic, Republican Iowa caucuses? See 2020, 2016 and earlier caucus results

Iowa Democrats have not said what they will do if the state is moved back in the nominating calendar.

Scott Brennan, a DNC member from Iowa, said Nov. 18 on "Iowa Press" he has "no earthly idea" whether Iowa Democrats would defy the national party and hold a first-in-the-nation contest even if they lose their official spot.

"That'll be a decision that clearly the state central committee will have to make," Brennan said. "You know, Iowans by their nature are rule followers. I think if it's, if it's ultimately believed that it was a fair, transparent and open process, most folks will, will probably cede to whatever the results are. But certainly, if there's a belief that, you know, to use your phrase, the books were cooked, you know, who knows? All bets are off."

More: Donald Trump says he's running for president. Is he the favorite to win the Iowa caucuses?

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chuck Grassley says Iowa Democrats should hold caucus first regardless