Republican Party process Iowa caucuses

for republicans, iowa caucus followed (but should not confused with) iowa straw poll in august of preceding year. winner of straw poll has failed win iowa caucuses in 1986, 2006, , 2010. in june 2014, party announced straw poll no longer take place.

the process of selecting iowa delegates republican national convention prior 2016 election cycle started selection of delegates county conventions, in turn affected delegates elected district conventions served delegates state convention delegates chosen national convention.

this process rewarded candidate organizers not got supporters caucus sites got supporters willing serve delegates county conventions , willing vote other delegates supported specific candidate. in 2012, process resulted in ron paul supporters dominating iowa delegation republican national convention, having 22 of 28 iowa delegates, mitt romney getting other 6 delegates.

because delegates elected @ caucuses did not need declare candidate preference, media did not have objective way determine success of individual candidates @ caucuses. media focused on secret ballot polling conducted @ caucus sites , have referred non-binding poll caucus. there irregularities in 2012 caucus site polling results, including fact 8 precinct results went missing , never counted.

because of irregularities in process , fact totals reported media unrelated delegate selection process, there have been changes in both how caucus site secret ballot polling sent state party headquarters , in how iowa delegates national convention required vote.

starting in 2016, caucus results have become binding when selecting delegates. acting in accordance mandate republican national committee, delegates bound on first ballot vote candidates in proportion votes cast each candidate @ caucus sites.