Why Iowa’s off-year caucuses could shape the 2026 election field

Off-year Iowa caucuses don't bring presidential hopefuls or the national spotlight, but party leaders say the 2026 meetings could still play a big role in Iowa's political future.

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Off-year Iowa caucuses don’t bring presidential hopefuls or the national spotlight, but party leaders say the 2026 meetings could still play a big role in Iowa’s political future. Iowans across the state will make decisions Monday night that could quietly shape some of the most competitive races of 2026.Republicans and Democrats are gathering at caucus sites across Iowa, kicking off a process that party leaders say could influence who ends up on the ballot this fall. The stakes are high with open seats for governor, U.S. Senate and several key congressional districts on the ballot this November.Bill Brauch, chair of the Polk County Democrats, said the 2026 caucuses are about laying the groundwork for the months ahead.“This is the first step in our winning the elections this fall,” Brauch said. “The 2026 elections are really important. This is the first time in many years we’ve had an open governor’s seat, U.S. Senate seat.”At Democratic caucuses, attendees will elect local party leaders, hear directly from candidates, and begin shaping who holds influence within the party.“We’re going to have a lot of candidates going to places like Hoover High School tonight talking to voters about why they want to be elected and what’s important to them,” Brauch said.Republicans are also caucusing across the state, with a focus on organization and early support building.“A lot of what the caucuses are about tonight is starting to build that foundation,” said Eric Woolson, a longtime Republican strategist.Part of that foundation includes selecting delegates. In Iowa, if no candidate receives 35% of the vote in the June primary, the race moves to a party convention where delegates choose the nominee.Woolson said it is rare, but that scenario has played out before.“We’ve seen that happen in the past,” Woolson said, pointing to the 2014 3rd congressional district Republican primary race. “It was when Congressman Young finished fifth in the primary, but he ended up ultimately winning, because he put a lot of his attention on winning over those delegates.”That dynamic could also matter this year, particularly on the Republican side, where five candidates are running for Iowa governor. Woolson said campaigns are likely preparing for the possibility that voters alone may not decide the outcome.“You’ll see candidates running for governor have their representatives out across the state with the idea of building support for them, because they may need those delegates when the convention time rolls around,” he said.While the 2026 caucuses may fly under the radar, the decisions made at these meetings could echo all the way to the convention floor and help determine who is still standing in Iowa’s biggest races when it matters most.Find more coverage on the Iowa candidates running here NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Loal News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

Republicans and Democrats are gathering at caucus sites across Iowa, kicking off a process that party leaders say could influence who ends up on the ballot this fall. The stakes are high with open seats for governor, U.S. Senate and several key congressional districts on the ballot this November.

Bill Brauch, chair of the Polk County Democrats, said the 2026 caucuses are about laying the groundwork for the months ahead.

“This is the first step in our winning the elections this fall,” Brauch said. “The 2026 elections are really important. This is the first time in many years we’ve had an open governor’s seat, U.S. Senate seat.”

At Democratic caucuses, attendees will elect local party leaders, hear directly from candidates, and begin shaping who holds influence within the party.

“We’re going to have a lot of candidates going to places like Hoover High School tonight talking to voters about why they want to be elected and what’s important to them,” Brauch said.

Republicans are also caucusing across the state, with a focus on organization and early support building.

“A lot of what the caucuses are about tonight is starting to build that foundation,” said Eric Woolson, a longtime Republican strategist.

Part of that foundation includes selecting delegates. In Iowa, if no candidate receives 35% of the vote in the June primary, the race moves to a party convention where delegates choose the nominee.

Woolson said it is rare, but that scenario has played out before.

“We’ve seen that happen in the past,” Woolson said, pointing to the 2014 3rd congressional district Republican primary race. “It was when Congressman Young finished fifth in the primary, but he ended up ultimately winning, because he put a lot of his attention on winning over those delegates.”

That dynamic could also matter this year, particularly on the Republican side, where five candidates are running for Iowa governor. Woolson said campaigns are likely preparing for the possibility that voters alone may not decide the outcome.

“You’ll see candidates running for governor have their representatives out across the state with the idea of building support for them, because they may need those delegates when the convention time rolls around,” he said.

While the 2026 caucuses may fly under the radar, the decisions made at these meetings could echo all the way to the convention floor and help determine who is still standing in Iowa’s biggest races when it matters most.

Find more coverage on the Iowa candidates running here