Des Moines, Iowa — The process and results of 2020 Democratic Caucus in the Heartland of America showed how chaotic the American Democracy process can be.
On Monday night’s causes, Iowa’s Democratic Party was unable to report the caucuses outcomes, blaming the delayed results on an app installed by Shadow Inc.
The official report was released on Tuesday, leaving voters and participants who anticipated for someone to defeat President Trump, hopeful but confused.
Shadow Inc., a startup company contracted by the Iowa Democratic Party because of its past involvement with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton presidential campaigns, apologized for the delay in a series of tweets Tuesday afternoon.
We sincerely regret the delay in the reporting of the results of last night’s Iowa caucuses and the uncertainty it has caused to the candidates, their campaigns, and Democratic caucus-goers.
— Shadow, Inc. (@ShadowIncHQ) February 4, 2020
At 12:20 a.m. on Feb. 5, Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) were the top three contenders.
More Iowa results are coming in. Here's the state of play at 70.76% of precincts reporting.
Live results: https://t.co/p7ZKIEPCwP pic.twitter.com/BK94Bs59Ka
— POLITICO (@politico) February 5, 2020
Some Caucus goers, like Louie Sloven of Des Moines, stood for more than an hour to support Sen. Warren and said he looked at the caucus’ result delay fiasco with disdain.
”I mean, so much is riding on this. It’s showtime,” Sloven said. “So, I’m disappointed.”
Photo by Mia Azizah
President Trump also compared the delay as “an unmitigated disaster.”
The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster. Nothing works, just like they ran the Country. Remember the 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare Website, that should have cost 2% of that. The only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is “Trump”.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2020
While the night was a disaster for some, the 2020 Iowa Caucus brought supporters who drove and flew from different parts of the country.
Josh Mindell, who flew from South Bend, Indiana, to support his former mayor, recognized the importance of attending the first state where every candidate had rallied for months.
Photo by Mia Azizah
He said Iowa could set the tone for the rest of the country because it is the first state to hold presidential nominating contests in the country. But it wouldn’t the be-all and end-all since Iowa lacks diverse demographics, Mindell said.
“Iowa is 94.3% Caucasian, so they don’t represent a lot of America,” he said. “So you get a very large chunk of a very small perspective.”
Thomas Lecaque of Ankeny, Iowa, also said the time and location of the Iowa Caucus is not inclusive because some voters are unable to attend because of multiple jobs, disabilities or lack of transportation.
“I think we need up serious conversations about what we’re going to do the next election cycle to make it more accessible, to make it fair,” Lecaque said.
Wade Randlett, CEO of the transportation fuels division of General Biofuels in California, said he wants a new president who would fight for Americans from different socio-economic backgrounds.
That’s why Randlett said he’s ready for Biden to be back in the West Wing.
“It’s much more about the economics of non-college educated, not just white, but African American, Hispanic, Asian, that understanding the work that he’s always done with those communities,” Randlett said. “And without disparaging people, like being a Harvard Law School professor, is not the same.”
With the 2020 election, father and son Bill and Jaxon Borth of West Des Moines said they both hope for new leadership who accelerate better policy changes for those whose voices, like the LGBTQ community, that may not often be heard.
But change comes with resistance, especially in rural communities, like, he said.
“People are just so used to going along with the way things have been,” Bill said. “And they need to figure out that it’s time for a change.”
The inspiration for wanting to see more change came from Jaxon, who is transgender, and his other multiracial family members, Bill said.
While Jaxon cannot vote, the 14-year-old said he still wants to see a new president who can unite now-polarized America.
“I feel like since Donald Trump has come into the office, he’s divided our country and make people fight each other,” Jaxon said.
While the delay left uncertainties, Lecaque said attending the caucus night was a privilege, as sometimes democracy comes with chaos.
“Last year, people were angry when results were announced too quickly, and only some of the details. Now they’re angry that we’re trying to do what they wanted last year, and it’s taking longer,” Laceque said while waiting in line for a photo session with Sen. Warren. “No one is ever going to be happy.”
