Thread by @benwikler

Popped over the state line to witness the #IowaCaucuses. At Capital Square, the house is packed. My goal: convince everyone who’s been knocking doors here for the primary switches to Wisconsin for the general, starting tomorrow. (Our first 2020 statewide canvass is Saturday.)

Today’s my birthday, and everyone here at the #IowaCaucuses has given me the one thing on my birthday wish list: they’re getting deeply involved, voting, and recruiting others. You, tweet reader, can do the same thing!

As a state party chair, I’m committed to neutrality in the primary. But I’m 0% neutral and 100% delighted by this part of the #IowaCaucuses: the new voter registration tables.

Caucus is officially called to order. Crowd breaks into cheers when caucus chair says we’ll be practicing some democracy tonight.

Public service announcement: If you are enjoying these tweets about democracy and would like to help save it, sign up for a canvass location in Wisconsin this coming Saturday here: wisdems.org/Victory

Or sign up to volunteer remotely here: wisdems.org/volunteer

MC: “How many people here are newly registered for the caucus—here for the first time?” — and roughly a third of the crowd raises a hand, and everyone else claps and cheers.

“Anyone come with resolutions prepared? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?” ... and then three come.
1: that the Iowa Dems should support a $1k/mo guaranteed minimum income. (Scattered applause.)
2: move caucuses to the weekend. (Cheers.)
3: make Election Day a national holiday. (Roars.)

Announcer says there are 1080 people at this caucus. Crowd erupts in cheers. That means candidates need 162 to reach the viability threshold of 15%. (Then, if your fave has under 15%, you’ll have the chance to choose someone else.)

Here’s how #IowaCaucus attendees are sorting themselves here in precinct 55, according to my extremely unscientific attempt to delineate the various groups in the room.

Observers are up here in the balcony, trying to count the groups below. (Down there, there’s a CPA doing a rigorous job.)

Two more groups of caucus goers not listed in previous photo: Tulsi (3 people) and “uncommitted.”

One person who isn’t here tonight: the 20yo waitress I met today who is working two 20h/week jobs, neither of which provides health insurance, and who didn’t recall being contacted by a single campaign.

BUT—she does plan to vote, for the first time, against Trump this fall.

Caucusgoers are filling out cards—given only to registered eligible voters here—which are then counted to determine which candidates have hit the 162-person viability threshold.

Three viable campaigns here at Precinct 55: Bernie, Pete, and Warren. #IowaCaucus

All the folks caucusing for candidates other than Bernie, Pete, and Warren now have 15 minutes to “re-align” by joining the group for one of those three candidates. As new people arrive, the receiving campaigns burst into applause.

“Bernie! Bernie!” chant rises up, joined shortly after by “Pete! Pete! Pete!”

Precinct over. Crowd has largely dispersed. Unclear whether they’re going to announce the numbers and delegate counts to the remaining crowd.

And here’s the big reveal:

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1224524491633713152?s=21

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1224524491633713152

RESULTS from #IowaCaucus precinct 55:

844 voters in first alignment; 14 delegates at stake

Final vote (unofficially):
245 Pete
218 Sanders
208 Warren

Official final delegate distribution:
5 Pete
5 Bernie
4 Warren

Final administrative task of the night: caucus goers elect specific actual people to be their delegates. And then folks clear out for the night.

Wrapping this thread here with a reminder that, no matter your primary candidate, we gotta beat Trump. And one great way to do that is to help us win Wisconsin.

Wisdems.org/donate
Wisdems.org/volunteer