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Tama County conducts midterm caucus

Tama County Republican party member and caucus organizer Craig Knock outlines the caucus night agenda for a precinct grouping at the Tama County Republicans caucus on Monday. Roughly two dozen party members were on hand at the Tama location to discuss party platform topics and to elect delegates to represent the group at the county convention coming up on March 12 at the Tama Civic Center. – Photo by Darvin Graham
Liz Bauch (center) completes caucus paperwork in the North Tama Schools lunchroom in Traer on Monday, Feb. 7 during the Tama County Democrats’ midterm caucus. Also pictured is Joel Mask (left) and Tom Seda (right) who were discussing ideas for possible party platform planks while Bauch worked. Glen Salisbury – who chaired the caucus – and Kennan Seda (both not pictured) were also in attendance. – Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Tama County Republican Caucus precinct location in Tama on Monday, Feb. 7. -- Photo by Darvin Graham
Tama County Democrats gathered at a caucus precinct location in Traer on Feb. 7. -- Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Iowa’s biennial caucus took place in school lunchrooms, community centers, libraries, and the like across Iowa this past Monday night including in several locations throughout Tama County. The longstanding tradition of ‘neighbors talking to neighbors’ began at 7:00 p.m. for both Tama County Democrats and Republicans. Although not a presidential election year, there was still party business to take care of in both political camps including the election of volunteer precinct leaders, adopting a party platform, and collecting nomination petition signatures. Although many of Iowa’s Democratic county central committees chose to hold their caucuses virtually due to COVID this year, this was not the case for Tama County Democrats who caucused in person at two sites (Tama and Traer), while Tama County Republicans held their midterm caucus at five locations in the county including Tama, Traer, Dysart, Clutier and Gladbrook.