Iowa Democratic Party launches an independent investigation of 2020 Iowa caucuses
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party on Friday extended the deadline for campaigns to request a recanvass of results and assured there is an independent investigation underway to further probe into reporting errors and delays that have sparked confusion and criticism.
Price said the goal of the review is to pinpoint "what went right and what went wrong from start to finish," adding the additional fact-finding will take "however long is needed." The report is independent from party officials, Price said.
"The challenges in reporting data and delays in publicizing results were categorically unacceptable," Price said.
Campaigns had until Friday at noon to request a recanvass of results. On that very day, Price extended the deadline until Monday, February 10, and requested that campaigns submit their own internal records for the party to cross-check by Saturday.
All of the precincts' results were accounted for by Thursday evening, showing Pete Buttigieg narrowly, by a razor thin margin, edging out Sen. Bernie Sanders in total state delegate equivalents, the measure used declare the caucus victor. The Associated Press announced it is unable to declare a winner because of the close results and the irregularities in the process this year.
"It has been and continues to be our top priority that the data we have reported accurately reflects the data reported by each precinct chair," Price said.
This is the latest development in a days-long snafu that resulted in full caucus results finally being tallied Thursday. Party officials said the problems stemmed from errors with an app used tabulate results Monday night and jammed phone lines that left precinct captains on hold for hours trying to submit their data. The fallout has left the race too close to call, and has heightened scrutiny of the Iowa Democratic Party and its process.
When asked to defend why Iowa should remain in the coveted front spot in the primary nominating calendar, Price said skeptics should look past the reporting flaws.
"Look at what happened Monday night, take away the issues with reporting: the thousands of people who showed up across the state who spent the last 13 months going through this job interview process for these presidential candidates," Price said. "Yes, it took longer what we would've liked to have seen. But Iowans came out on Monday night and made sure their voices were heard in this process."
More than 174,000 Iowa Democrats turned out on caucus night, falling short of projections that the party would see record turnout and best the 2008 caucuses that drew 240,000.
Price said the party would hold another news conference Monday with more updates, including if any campaigns requested a recanvass.
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The Iowa Democratic Party has not confirmed the name of the app company, though according to a spokesperson for one of the Democratic presidential campaigns who spoke with the Associated Press---and multiple other news reports--- a company called Shadow Inc., created the app used during 2020 caucuses. During a press conference, Price was asked if a lawsuit would be filed against the app company; he declined to answer.
