My Iowa: Covering the Caucuses as a Native or a Newcomer

One of our team members was raised in Iowa City and became interested in becoming a journalist after observing the caucuses. The other member arrived in the area for the initial time only two months prior. They decided to compare their experiences.

On the evening of January 15, 2024, at 6:01 PM Eastern Time, a blog post was published.

KELLEN BROWNING If you were attempting to consider a metropolis that has a completely different atmosphere compared to San Francisco, Des Moines might be an adequate choice.

In November, I found out that I had to relocate to Iowa for the winter to cover the Iowa caucuses. I only had two weeks to prepare and pack up my life in the Bay Area. To learn more about the assignment, I reached out to Sydney Ember, who had done the same job four years ago. She assured me that driving in the snow would not be difficult and shared her own experiences of almost getting into accidents three times while covering the 2020 Democratic primary race in Iowa.

With the assurance that brought me peace of mind - and a fresh seasonal attire - I headed out to Des Moines. Over a span of merely six weeks, I have traversed a distance of more than 3,400 miles in my rented car, partaken in the public demonstrations held by each of the prominent presidential nominees, and conversed with numerous voters. Although I played the role of an Iowan on occasion, one of my fellow team members is an authentic resident of the state.

Anjali Huynh, a reporter who specializes in politics and grew up in Iowa City, has observed us reporters attempting to become experts of the state of Iowa. I can only guess that she was unimpressed with our failure to assimilate with the locals. As I come to the end of my time here, I wanted to have a conversation with an authentic Iowan about their state, and impart some of the knowledge that I have gained.

How did you feel when you found out that you were going to Des Moines, which is a destination you have never visited before?

I was excited to visit the Midwest as I hadn't been there before but I wasn't sure what to expect. I pictured cornfields and flat land, which is different from the hilly landscape of San Francisco. When I arrived in downtown Des Moines, I noticed how peaceful it was. I assumed people were staying indoors due to the chilly weather. However, I learned that Iowa has a lower population density compared to other states, so it's just a quieter place overall.

Anjali asked about the low temperature.

KELLEN The weather was around 40 degrees, which, at present, I consider to be mild. Nonetheless, I am intrigued. How has the experience been for you, who originated from Iowa City, encountering those like me coming in to the city unexpectedly?

It has been quite unusual. One of the reasons for me to choose journalism as my profession was the caucuses. I still remember my debut event in 2016 when I went to witness Senator Bernie Sanders in my native place. I heard that Josh Hutcherson, the actor who starred as Peeta Mellark in "The Hunger Games," would be campaigning alongside him.

When I was 14 years old, I was extremely impressed with the large number of individuals who came to witness a politician from Vermont. It was an eye-opening moment for me as I comprehended the impact Iowa had in attracting numerous candidates to the state.

In 2020, I convinced a nearby magazine to let me track the Democratic primary candidates before the big event. I went to the Iowa State Fair for the magazine and while observing the candidates, I noticed how the national journalists were acting. They were being rude to the fairgoers and discussing Iowans in a stereotypical way. This made me feel upset. I made a promise to myself that if I ever made it to a larger platform, I would do things differently. I decided to make an effort to truly comprehend why Iowans had the beliefs they did, instead of relying on cliches.

I have attempted to achieve that by spending six weeks on site.

Anjali, were there any unexpected aspects of Iowa that caught your attention?

I must admit, I never fully believed in the concept of "Iowa Nice" until now. Experienced campaign workers and strategists have asked me whether I've brought gloves and if I need them.

Hey Anjali, may I know what are your expectations regarding the caucuses that are being held today? How do you perceive the overall process?

I'm currently communicating with various voters who haven't made up their minds yet. For the past week, I've been sharing news about Vivek Ramaswamy, and I've interacted with countless individuals at his gatherings who have expressed their indecisiveness between him and other contenders. A considerable proportion of Iowans postpone their decisions until the eleventh hour, making those last campaign messages crucial.

The caucuses encounter numerous problems that make it difficult for many individuals to participate. The timing of the caucuses is incredibly rigid, scheduled on a specific date and time and only available in person. Such restrictions create barriers for certain individuals and limit their access to the caucuses.

There is something captivating about witnessing the unfolding of the caucusing process. It's heartening to observe neighbors who strongly cherish it, gather together and persuade each other to rally behind a candidate. Iowa's scope of viewpoints is often underestimated - there is more to it than just farmers. The unique blend of ideologies truly comes to light during the caucuses.

What I've enjoyed the most is conversing with voters in person. These folks are committed to their civic duty and are fully invested in the electoral process. They're even open to speaking with journalists.

Recently, I had a chat with two couples in Sioux Center following a Trump rally. They expressed their dislike for The New York Times and mentioned that they don't find it trustworthy. During our discussion that lasted for about 20 minutes, I tried to convey to them the media's perspective. I explained that we strive to report only the truth and our stories are always accurate. However, their response was that people no longer have faith in the media and are relying more on what they experience firsthand and, as a result, turning to alternative news sources such as Tucker Carlson.

There is currently a split in the nation on what is considered true, which presents a challenge in communicating with individuals. However, I am grateful that we were able to converse in person instead of relying on technology.

ANJALI Can you share any amusing incidents from your hiking experience?

The most amusing part, according to me, was when a little girl from Nebraska, who was only 10 years old, asked Vivek Ramaswamy if he were to become the president, whether he would request a huge panda from China's leader, Xi Jinping, for her zoo. And surprisingly, he replied in the affirmative, saying that he would give it a shot.

ANJALI How about some noteworthy things to see in Iowa?

KELLEN enjoys taking runs around Gray's Lake located in Des Moines while marveling at Iowa's stunning sunsets. Furthermore, in Des Moines, there are numerous exceptional bridges which illuminate the night creating a magnificent view. Additionally, KELLEN was satisfied with the tasty food that was served.

Even as I traveled to rural regions of the state for my campaign events, I discovered them to be delightful. The downtown Sioux Center's Fruited Plain Café, for one, is a warm and quaint spot to seek shelter from the harsh cold. There was also an occasion when I unintentionally crossed over to Nebraska. Anjali, could you tell me about your beloved spot in Iowa that is not Iowa City?

The autumn season in Dubuque is stunning. When I last visited, there was a market specifically for winter products.

Kellen said that he would have to return when the weather is not excessively cold, as it was negative 18 degrees outside.