Iowa Caucus: Declare Independence from Trump

As the sun rose this morning in Iowa, Republican voters were free. This is a rare and precious thing. Most of the time, in our current presidency-centered two-party system, voters find themselves in one of three positions of dependence:

But today is the voters’ day. They can go any way they choose. They can ignore the polls, ignore the endorsements, ignore the media narratives, ignore the cash on hand. Iowans enjoy that privilege above all others, who must vote in the shadow of the contests before them. Whatever they do will shape the rest of the race. This is their day to declare independence, and it won’t come again for another four or eight years.

About the Author

Dan McLaughlin

Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review Online and a fellow at National Review Institute.

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As the sun rose this morning in Iowa, Republican voters were free. This is a rare and precious thing. Most of the time, in our current presidency-centered two-party system, voters find themselves in one of three positions of dependence:

But today is the voters’ day. They can go any way they choose. They can ignore the polls, ignore the endorsements, ignore the media narratives, ignore the cash on hand. Iowans enjoy that privilege above all others, who must vote in the shadow of the contests before them. Whatever they do will shape the rest of the race. This is their day to declare independence, and it won’t come again for another four or eight years.