The Iowa caucuses will be held next Monday, kicking off the presidential race in the United States

Although Iowa has proportionately a minimal decision share, next Monday’s caucuses are one of the most important events in the United States presidential race, a head-on battle between candidates that serves as the first screening of survivors and that this year will have a surprise guest: the extremely cold.

Although Republicans and Democrats held caucuses in Iowa until 2024, this year the Democrats – with only one real candidate, Joe Biden – decided to change their calendar. The battle will therefore take place in the Republican Party and according to the polls it already has a winner: Donald Trump.

The Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantisand the former US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haleyare most likely to take on Trump within the Republican Party.

At caucuses like this Monday you can vote canyone over 18 years old on Election Day, who is registered in a district as a voter for the Republican Party or who registers at special tables in the voting centers that same evening.

While primaries – the other alternative where parties choose their candidates – are similar to an election day, where citizens can vote for hours, caucuses take place on one day and at a specific time. Next Monday the 15th, at 7:00 PM (2:00 AM in the Basque Country), in the case of Iowa.

Unlike primaries, caucuses are not organized by the state, but by the parties themselves, and conducted by volunteers.

Important appointments until November 5

Tradition indicates that the election race in Iowa, in the case of the Republicans, starts on January 15. Eight days later, on January 23, it is their turn New Hampshirewith double primaries to which the supporters of the two major parties are invited, allowing us to see what the first trends are.

A date marked in red on this calendar will remain known as ‘great tuesday‘. On March 5, more than a dozen states, including California and Texas, are called for voting on a day that typically marks a turning point, so much so that leaving “Super Tuesday” without options usually implies a premature abandonment. on the other hand, an accumulation of victories consolidates candidacies.

Technically, the process lasts until early June, although results are often expected weeks or even months in advance. By the end of March, more than half of the delegates will have been divided and in 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders announced his departure from the Democratic primaries at the beginning of April, paving the way for Joe Biden to win the election candidacy, while there was no chance on the Republican side was a rival to then-president Donald Trump.

The scenario is now reversed as it is Biden who defends his place in the Oval Office and has the race open. Among the Republicans, on the other hand, the swords are raised, although only a handful of candidates aim to overthrow the favorite Trump, who aims to repeat the electoral confrontation of November 2020 despite the numerous judicial fronts he has open.

To participate in the primaries, no requirements have been imposed other than those included in the Constitution to be president of the United States: be born in the North American country and have lived there for at least 14 years and be older than 35 years. The law places no limits on accused people like Trump.

The process will culminate in the elections that will be held November 5.