Nice to be back at @DrakeUniversity even just for the evening for this Julián Castro event. Four years ago I spent my 6 months in Iowa at Drake and really enjoyed my time here. #iacaucus 
Setup for the Castro forum tonight at Drake in Des Moines. About 45 minutes until listed 6pm start time. #iacaucus
Just under 100 chairs set up here for Julian Castro. People drifting in. #IACaucus
We’re 10 minutes past “start time” for Castro event and just about all seats are full, plus some extras down, so over 100 people here. Unsurprisingly many are students, after all we are at a university. Moderator has taken the stage. #IACaucus
@LauraRBelin is the moderator, she introduces Castro, The intro includes a statement he has taken “a number of bold position” including his anti-Iowa stance. She then gives us the rules for this “frank exchange of ideas.” #IACaucus
1st Q: doesn’t it make sense for a small state to go first where the cost is lower? Castro starts : We’ve marching to a beat of our own. I have been speaking bold truths. Goes into some stump speech material. #IACaucus
Castro: Tonight is about telling you truth when we have a president who won’t; standing up for the forgotten people. IA and NH should not be first. Can’t tell Black women we’re relying on them to help us win then start in 2 states with hardly any African Americans. #IACaucus
Castro then says the costs of Iowa are higher than you think, rates get raised. Then says IA is so physically large there are few places to go “block walking”. Should look at urban to rural mix and pick state with “good urban to rural mix”. #IACaucus
Q: Doesn’t Obama winning in 2008 mean this is a good place to start? Castro: one time does not prove the exception. But neither has sent a person of color to represent them to Congress. Lack of diversity in IA is the problem. Also talks about access issues. #IACaucus
Castro says caucuses seem like something Republicans would have invented with all the access issues.
When we get to the most diverse states after IA and NH those states have less people to choose from. #IACaucus
When we get to the most diverse states after IA and NH those states have less people to choose from. #IACaucus
Laura asks about canceled virtual caucus which would have been by phone. Castro: Of course process would have been at risk for hacking. Was disappointed that something happened at the DNC which had originally seemed it would accept it. Why wasn’t it worked out earlier? #IACaucus
Castro says satellite caucuses will not solve access problem. Then slams the public nature of the vote in Dems caucus - what if your supervisor is there, he asks? Then says mixed status families w/undocumented workers less willing to participate in a public process. #IACaucus
Audience Q&A. Castro asked about voter registration, says he supports automatic voter registration when you turn 18.
FWIW, IA caucus allows registration at caucus, do not have to be registered ahead of time, as long as eligible voter. #IACaucus
FWIW, IA caucus allows registration at caucus, do not have to be registered ahead of time, as long as eligible voter. #IACaucus
Castro also call for lowering voting age to 17 “in years to come.” Says it will get people excited earlier, and will increase participation. #IACaucus
Q: Push back by an IA transplant. Thought it was dumb, but seeing how Iowans handle it, supports the process. Push back on black and brown committees, says they do exist in IA. So what other state will you go to with history and understanding of policy? #IACaucus
Castro: You make a very good point, people of IA take role seriously. I appreciate that. It’s great that you vet candidates well. But it would happen anywhere, happens because you are first, and would happen in whichever state. #IACaucus
Castro: We should go forward with DNC task force with diverse people, they should create a system of rank ordering states. Consider how reflective of diversity, size and ease of campaigning, how easy do states make it to vote? I believe it will be a more fair process. #IACaucus
What about NH? They won’t let IA have a primary and hold its position. Castro says DNC controls this, not NH, DNC could sanction them, just like other states were sanctioned in previous cycles. #IACaucus
Q: In a bigger state wouldn’t the billionaires just have an advantage? Castro: we need to address money in politics. And the question of larger than smaller states should be a consideration in any update. But it shouldn’t be top or second most important part. #IACaucus
Women comments that most here are white, don’t want to give up power. Latinos/African Americans do not have a fair chance in IA. We have a lot of white saviors who say they are liberals who do not want to give up the power. She thanks Castro for bringing up the issue #IACaucus
Castro denies he is bringing Iowa up as sour grapes, because he’s not doing well here. Says he’s done it because it needs to be said, need a change that reflects the values of the Dem party. Notes that he is 45, could be destroying his future opportunities with this. #IACaucus
Castro again recounts ways he says GOP is surpressing vote. We want to be the opposite of that. Making changes is a way we can show we care about this, that we want everyone to have a fair shot. There is not a fair shot for the voters themselves in the current process. #IACaucus
@LauraRBelin says Dem #IACaucus allocates delegates in a way that makes them even across state; thus concentrated groups of non-white voters in cities are less represented. #IACaucus
On @LauraRBelin ‘s point, bias is not that great, and exists elsewhere because delegate allocations don’t change based on turnout; they are based on Dem vote performance. Importantly, this year actual votes will be released, likely changing how results are reported. #IACaucus
Castro keeps saying turnout in Dem caucuses is only 16%. But it depends on what you use as base. In 2008, nearly 240K voted, out of about 650K dems at the time, closer to 40%. Since it’s party event, I argue that base should be party members, not all registered voters. #IACaucus
IA Rep Ako Abdul‑Samad says it isn’t caucus that is problem, it is the ills of America. IA sent 1st African Ameri, 1st woman forward. Was at forefront of civil rights long before others. Ills of systemic racisms should be the focus, not caucus. #IACaucus
Castro responds by saying he has been the most focused on the ills, focused on the forgotten. Turning to the comment, while IA has been a good place, and he has liked being here, it is time to relook at process. If we’re true to our values we will make an improvement. #IACaucus
Another from the audience. If it wasn’t for the caucuses we would be a deep red state like Nebraska. She wants to make sure Iowa voices continue to matter and we will continue to caucus. Castro says may well be true but should not main reason. #IACaucus
Castro again says you would think a right wing Republican created caucus system. Needs significant change, that’s the truth, he says. Asked why primaries are better, he says it is different how support is tallied. Person gets most votes win. Says not true in caucus. #IACaucus
Castro again says primaries are just easier to vote in, which is likely true. In response to another question, discounts value of caucus as a community event, where people talk about politics, issues, and discuss candidates, saying many people don’t want to do this. #IACaucus
Another note from me: All Dem primaries and caucuses are subject to a 15% threshold to win delegates, and delegate allocation comes before the vote. The caucus is not different in that context. #IACaucus
Student asks Castro to condemn Univ of IA/IA State for not canceling classes on caucus day. He says he won’t “condemn” but would hope they’d allow time for students to caucus & not miss class.
He and I agree on something. :-) #IACaucus
He and I agree on something. :-) #IACaucus
Castro makes the connection between diversity in Iowa and private sector. If we’re not going to make sure Democracy itself reflects out diversity, why should the private sector do so. Argues there would be different outcomes if other states went first. #IACaucus
So Castro and I agree on another point. It would have been different in 2008 if Iowa had not been first. As we suggest in our book Why Iowa?, Obama would likely have not been the nominee if this heavily white state had not been first in standing up for him. #IACaucus
