Statewide Iowa — Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price says he’s resigning so the party can have a “fresh start.”
The results of the 2020 Iowa Democratic Party Caucuses are still not final. On Sunday, party officials will begin a re-canvas of 143 precincts and satellite caucuses at the request of the Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg campaigns, to check the accuracy of results. On Saturday, the Iowa Democratic Party’s governing board will meet to elect Price’s replacement.
Last week, Price told reporters he intended to stay on as chair until the Caucus counting had reached its conclusion. But now he says staying on became untenable.
In the wake of Price’s resignation, State Representative Mark Smith is the first to announce he’s running to be the next chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. Smith says his background gives him the ability to step in and help restore confidence to his party.
Smith announced in September he would not seek reelection to a tenth term in the Iowa House. Smith served as Democratic Leader for five and a half years, leading the effort to recruit and raise money for legislative candidates. Smith says if he’s chosen as chairman, he does not plan to resign his seat in the legislature and will serve out the remaining 10 months of his term in the House.
