The Iowa Caucuses are a critical and closely watched part of the presidential nomination process. The 2024 Republican Iowa Caucus race proved to be an interesting test for an unusual field of candidates.

Although there was no incumbent, when former President Trump declared his candidacy he effectively ran as one. That didn’t deter other serious candidates from entering the race but a variety of factors and outside events limited their ability to challenge Trump.

As with prior caucus races, the changing dynamics of the race gave it an almost rollercoaster feel despite relatively small changes in the polls. In Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster 2024 Tim Hagle, a University of Iowa political science professor, examines the events that shaped the 2024 caucus race.

As a critical observer of the Iowa Caucuses, Hagle provides insight into the factors that affected each candidate’s support among Iowa’s voters. Each chapter provides Hagle’s analysis of the events that occurred during the prior monthly period and how those events affected the standing of the candidates.

The point-in-time approach of the chapters allows the reader to get a sense of how the campaigns developed and changed from an on-the-ground perspective. Hagle takes us from the early stages when it wasn’t even clear which candidates would enter the Republicans’ nomination race, through the intense, final days when several candidates had fallen away and Iowa was make-or-break for some of those remaining.

Along the way, Hagle provides explanations of the Iowa Caucuses and the Republicans’ caucus night procedures. He also discusses why grassroots organizing is so important to caucus success and highlights pitfalls that campaigns should avoid.

In addition, he provides comments on the Democrats’ nomination race and changes to their early state schedule. Along with prior books in the series, Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster 2024 is a valuable read for anyone interested in presidential campaigns, grassroots politics, and the Iowa Caucuses.

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