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"It was never really a question," said party spokesman Aaron Britt, who explained that the Iowa government believed that maintaining its much vaunted status was the first field battle of the primary process. "We are the first in the country, and that's a role we take very seriously."
However, a handful of states parties, including South Carolina, Arizona and Nevada, plan to give up their primaries or caucuses next year. It is not without precedent for Republicans or state democrats to decide not to hold a presidential primary while the outgoing president presents himself as an undisputed candidate.
"If a party represents only reelection," they write, "it does not represent anything."
Britt said the Iowa GOP had not been under pressure from Trump's allies to cancel his caucuses, adding, "People understand that this would be an opportunity for President Trump to show how strong he is in this state ".
There is no doubt that Trump enjoys a strong base of institutional support among Hawkeye State Republicans. The president of the State party, Jeff Kaufmann, has made himself the president's lawyer. Speaking at a Trump rally in 2017, Kaufmann suggested that Senator Ben Sasse, then a critic of Trump, was not welcome to campaign in Iowa.
"He's crossing the Missouri River and, in that sarcastic tone, is talking about what he does not like about Donald Trump," Kaufmann said at the time. "You know what, Senator Sasse, I do not care what you like, we love Donald Trump, and if you do not like it, I'd advise you to stay on your side of Missouri."
Last year, Kaufmann made it clear that Republican candidates are "welcome" in Iowa.
"But if these challengers criticize the Republicans and the president," he added, "I will push them away."
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