IDP Chair Rita Hart says 'I'm not going to commit today' to Jan. 15 caucus date picked by GOP

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said she can't commit to the party holding its caucuses on Jan. 15, 2024 — the same day Iowa Republicans plan to hold their party's presidential nominating process.

Hart has previously said Iowa Democrats intend to hold their caucuses on the same day as Iowa Republicans, but she said Thursday on an episode of "Iowa Press" on Iowa PBS that the party's State Central Committee will have to make the decision.

"I’m not going to commit today," Hart said. "I think that’s a consensus kind of decision. But we’re certainly having those conversations."

More: Iowa Democrats say they will hold 2024 caucuses on the same day as Republicans

Democrats and Republicans have traditionally held their caucuses on the same day, but the process this time is complicated by the Democratic National Committee's decision to strip Iowa Democrats of their place as the first presidential nominating contest. The Republican National Committee has been firm that Iowa Republicans will hold the first contest in 2024.

Hart said she would like the party to hold its caucuses on the same day as Republicans and expressed disappointment that Republicans did not consult Democrats when picking their caucus date.

"We’ve said from the very beginning that we would have the caucuses on the same day as the Republicans," Hart said. "I certainly would like to see that we are able to do that, but we’re going to continue to have those conversations."

Republicans' caucus date falls on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which Hart said is one of Democrats' considerations as they think about setting a caucus date.

More: Republicans pick 2024 Iowa caucus date for the presidential nomination. What to know:

"We’re being thoughtful about that," she said. "I’ve talked to lots of, particularly our Black leaders across the state to see if that’s going to be agreeable. And so we’re going to continue those conversations and then we’ll have the State Central Committee voting on that soon."

Iowa Democrats have said they will allow mail-in participation in their 2024 caucuses for the purpose of Iowans registering their preference for presidential candidates. That's another sticking point with Republicans, who this year passed a law requiring caucusing to take place in person for the purpose of selecting presidential delegates.

Iowa Democrats say their plan, which involves mailing "presidential preference cards" to participants, does not violate state law. The party has not said when it will begin mailing the cards to Iowans or when the results will be tallied.

"There’s some ambiguity there as to when that window begins, but we’re definitely looking forward to the fact that we’re going to be having very inclusive caucuses where people can have their voice heard on their presidential preference," Hart said.

More: Iowa Democrats approved a caucus plan with mail-in participation. Does it violate state law?

Hart said when Democrats do hold precinct caucuses, most of the party's business will be conducted in person, as it has been in previous years.

"We’re going to have in-person caucuses," she said. "They’re going to look a lot like they have in the past, you know, doing our party business. Electing our precinct officers. Determining our delegates. The only difference is that those delegates will not be bound. They won’t be bound until they get to the county convention."

Rita Hart criticizes 'anti-Semitic comments' from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Two of President Joe Biden's challengers for the Democratic presidential nomination plan to campaign at the Iowa State Fair this weekend.

Asked if candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson are welcome to campaign in Iowa, Hart said anyone can come to the state.

But she said she's not comfortable with comments Kennedy made recently that COVID-19 is “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” and spare Chinese people and Ashkenazi Jewish people. Hart said she's not comfortable with those comments. Those comments have drawn widespread condemnation.

"We have a longstanding tradition of candidates coming to the Iowa State Fair," Hart said. "I am concerned about the anti-Semitic comments that Robert F. Kennedy has recently said and so we’re not very comfortable with that, but having said that, anybody has the ability to come to the state fair."

More: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gears up Iowa campaign to challenge President Biden

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who appeared on "Iowa Press" with Hart, criticized Kennedy's anti-vaccine comments, which include promoting conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine and pandemic.

"The conversations he sparked around vaccines ended up killing people," Walz said. "So I have very little time there."

He went on to praise Biden's accomplishments as president.

"I think most Americans recognize — and especially if they look globally — our inflation numbers are better than almost any other country. Our manufacturing rebound is there. CHIPS Act. All the things that are really inspiring people. That’s an agenda," Walz said. "I think coming to this with a fringe conspiracy theory with anti-Semitic beliefs or with no clear platform doesn’t really attract people. President Biden will win."

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: Rita Hart: Iowa Democrats aren't set on a Jan. 15 caucus date with GOP