Religious Profile

Religion has often factored into Iowa politics and has influenced the debates over Prohibition in the 1920s, the 1960s campaign for liquor-by-the-drink - which allowed wine and liquor to be served in bars - and the creation of casinos in the 1980s. Counties in which more people belong to a religious congregation tend to enact more conservative policies, while counties in which fewer people belong to a religious congregation tend to enact more liberal social policies

The Caucuses

Religion and Politics

Iowa voters care deeply about presidential candidates' individual beliefs. For example, according to a 2000 Los Angeles Times survey (registration required to view webpage), 40% of all Iowa caucus voters thought that a candidate's relationship with Jesus Christ should play a part in the campaign. For Republican voters, that number jumped to 61%.

The influence of religion on Iowa's caucuses and elections has grown since the early 1980s. A book co-edited by Pew Forum Senior Fellow John Green notes that in 2000, 40% of GOP caucus participants were evangelical Protestants, the highest percentage ever recorded. In an April 2007 Religion News Service story, one state GOP spokesman estimated that evangelicals and social conservatives account for 50-60% of all Iowa voters.

For Iowa Republicans, particularly evangelical Protestants, religion is a key political factor. In presidential elections since 1984, "the single best predictor of Republican voting is the evangelical population in the county," according to Green's book.

In the 1988 caucuses, evangelical religious broadcaster Pat Robertson won a quarter of the Iowa vote, placing him above eventual Republican nominee George H.W. Bush. Robertson's strong showing surprised political observers. His backing came primarily from conservative Christians, whose concern about moral issues motivated their politics.

On the Democratic side, the Rev. Jesse Jackson also posted surprisingly strong numbers in the 1988 caucuses. He appealed to left-leaning Christians and captured nearly 10% of the Democratic vote.

With the notable exception of Jackson's 1988 campaign, Christian political activity in Iowa tends to be on the Republican end of the political spectrum. As Ed Failor Jr. of Iowans for Tax Relief recently told Reuters News Service, "The Christian conservatives in Iowa have been part of the process for 20 years, we're ingrained in state politics. We're part of the Republican mainstream."

Caucus Rules

• Caucus date: Jan. 3, 2008
• Caucus participants must be registered party members.

Democrats

• 57 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
• Candidate selection is a multistage process. The precinct caucuses in January are used to select delegates to the county conventions, where district and state delegates are chosen. At the district level, more state delegates are allocated. Finally, at the state convention in mid-June, the state delegates select delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
  
  While the January caucus only determines county convention delegates, the results are nevertheless influential because Iowa's caucuses are the first in the nation.
• More detailed information can be found at the following websites:
  
  The Green Papers Iowa Democratic Caucus Page
  The Des Moines Register

Republicans

• 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention.
• The Jan. 3 caucuses determine the delegates sent to the county conventions. The Republicans then proceed through a multitiered caucusing system similar to the Democrats.
• The caucuses for the Iowa GOP are different from the Ames Straw Poll, which is a fundraising event. This year, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani did not participate in the straw poll, which was held on Aug. 11, 2007. Mitt Romney won the straw poll and Mike Huckabee placed second.
• More detailed information can be found at the following websites:
  
  The Green Papers Iowa Republican Caucus Page
  The Des Moines Register

Past Results

2004 Presidential Election

The charts below provide a breakdown of candidate preference by religious tradition and religious attendance for the 2004 presidential election in Iowa.

Past Election Results

Resources

Religious and Political Groups:

American Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker group, with chapters in Iowa, that works for social justice and peace.

Concerned Women for America, Iowa
The Iowa chapter of Concerned Women for America lobbies and works on electoral campaigns.

DAWN’s List
DAWN’s List is a feminist organization dedicated to electing women who support abortion rights to the Iowa state legislature.

Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa works to protect religious freedom, ensure civil rights for all people through advocacy and education, and educate and mobilize Iowan voters.

Iowa Catholic Church Convention
The Iowa Catholic Church Convention is the “public policy voice of the bishops.”

Iowa Christian Alliance
The Iowa Christian Alliance encourages voter participation, rally attendance, petition signing, donations and fundraising. It was known as the Iowa Christian Coalition before it split with the national Christian Coalition. It often co-sponsors events with Iowans for Tax Relief.

Iowa Eagle Forum
The Iowa Eagle Forum is a state affiliate of the Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly’s national pro-family organization.

Iowa Family Policy Center
The Iowa Family Policy Center works with the Iowa Christian Alliance and focuses on policy rather than electoral participation.

Iowa FreedomWorks
Iowa FreedomWorks advocates for lower taxes and limited government.

Iowa Right to Life
Iowa Right to Life often works with Iowans for Life to promote an anti-abortion agenda. It is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.

Iowans for Life
Iowans for Life promotes an anti-abortion agenda and often works with Iowa Right to Life.

Iowans for Tax Relief
Iowans for Tax Relief lobbies for reduced state government and lower taxes.

Methodist Federation for Social Action, Iowa Chapter
The Methodist Federation for Social Action does work on issues of racial and economic justice, women’s rights, peace and the environment.

Progressive Action for the Common Good, Quad Cities
Progressive Action for the Common Good is involved in advocacy and activism on a variety of progressive issues.

Related Websites:

2008 Iowa Caucus Project: The Caucus Project is a nonpartisan resource for news media, campaign staff and the general public on the Iowa caucuses.

Faith in Public Life: Faith in Public Life offers a map showing the locations of various Iowa religious organizations.

Frequently Asked Caucus Questions: The Des Moines Register explains the Iowa caucus process.

The Green Papers: The Green Papers is an online clearinghouse of election information.

Iowa Caucuses: This website offers caucus information provided by The Gazette, an Iowa newspaper.

Iowa Democrats: Iowa Democrats is the official website of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Iowa First Caucus: Iowa First Caucus is a caucus information website paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party.

Iowa GOP: Iowa GOP is the official website of the Iowa Republican Party.

Iowa Votes 2008: Iowa Votes 2008 is a caucus resource provided by WHO-TV in Iowa.

Religions in Iowa: Religions in Iowa is a service of Iowa Public Television.

Relevant Books and Articles:

“GOP Candidates Wooing 10 Influential Religious Conservatives”: An April 2007 Religion News Service article that details Republican efforts to garner support from evangelicals and social conservatives.

“Religious Conservatives Still Have Clout in Iowa”: A June 2007 Reuters article that examines the influence of the Christian right in Iowa politics.

The Christian Right in American Politics: Edited by Pew Forum Senior Fellow John Green, The Christian Right in American Politics analyzes the Christian right’s role in state politics from 1980–2000.

Race for the Presidency: Winning the 2004 Nomination: Political analyst Rhodes Cook examines the nominating process state-by-state for the 2004 presidential elections.