First in the Nation - Olivia Sun

Spectators and media spot Joe Biden in the stands on July 4, 2019 at an Iowa Cubs game.

First in the Nation

I moved to Des Moines in the spring of 2019, a serendipitous foray into one of my then-lesser favorite areas of interest: American politics.

Attempting to capture every public gesture of the Democratic candidates — a diverse group of 24 at its largest — was exhilarating. Their efforts to sway Iowans' votes was relentless, seizing to mobilize every fervent supporter and volunteer of the Democratic Party throughout the state that stood very first in line to caucus. In the remaining 72 hours before the caucuses on Feb. 3, I met numerous organizers who'd driven for days just to make the final effort to canvass neighborhoods, knocking on doors or calling landlines to try and win over the last undecided voters. This compilation offers but a glimpse of Iowa's caucus 'season' through its tumultuous end in 2020.

Young attendees listen to Andrew Yang in Aug. 2019 at the Iowa State Fair.

Tulsi Gabbard in Aug. 2019.

Volunteers and organizers stack chairs following a Joe Biden rally in Jan. 2020 in Indianola.

Linda Hagedorn hands out ballots at The Arc's Voter Accessibility Project in Jan. 2020 in Ames. The Arc's mock caucus was held to train those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Paul Franceschi during a phone banking shift in Jan. 2020. | Pete Buttigieg takes selfies with supporters in November 2019 in Creston.

Joe Biden makes final edits to his speech before a rally in Jan. 2020 in Indianola.

Kristen Gillibrand in July 2019 in Davenport. | Iowa State fairgoers watch candidate speeches in Aug. 2019.

O. Kay Henderson of Iowa Public Radio moderates Bernie Sanders at the AARP Forum in July 2019 in Council Bluffs.

Joe Biden speaks amid an LCD-panel delay in Nov. 2019 at Wells Fargo Arena.

Marianne Williamson, Aug. 2019.

Bill de Blasio, July 2019.

Rebecca Dodson, a supporter of Joe Biden, reacts to the Democratic debate in Jan. 2020 at a watch party in Clive.

Beto O'Rourke, Jill Biden, and Joe Biden greet newly-naturalized citizens in July 2019 before a Iowa Cubs game. | Students keep time during candidate speeches at Roosevelt High School's Youth Forum in Sept. 2019.

Supporters watch Cory Booker through an overflow hallway's window in Aug. 2019.

A labor union supporter listens to candidates in Sept. 2019 in Clinton. | Beto O'Rourke pauses before a campaign speech in October 2019 in Des Moines.

Tim Ryan, Sept. 2019 in Des Moines.

Participants at a 'beer caucus' sample six beer varieties to caucus for in Dec. 2019.

Koelen Andrews canvasses door-to-door for Bernie Sanders in Jan. 2020.

ACLU volunteer leader Holly Thayer holds a training session for 'connection-making' strategies to involve caucusgoers in civil and immigrant rights, criminal justice reform in Jan. 2020 in Urbandale. | Reporters follow Cory Booker before a rally in September 2019.

Pete Buttigieg addresses reporters at a press gaggle in Nov. 2019.

An attendee listens to Cory Booker on New Year's Eve in Ankeny.

Andrew Yang watches his supporters cheer on a passing Yang bus in Nov. 2019.

Steve Bullock reacts in frustration to a question on Medicare-for-All in July 2019 in Council Bluffs.

A staffer trains volunteers on door-to-door canvassing in Jan. 2020.

Supporters of Amy Klobuchar on caucus night. | Precinct chairman Frank Flanders prepares to direct the state's first satellite caucus on Feb. 3, 2020 in Ottumwa. Upon first alignment, 14 caucusgoers stood for Sen. Bernie Sanders and one for Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Fifteen arrived at the state's first satellite caucus on Feb. 3, 2020 in Ottumwa. Upon first alignment, 14 caucusgoers stood for Sen. Bernie Sanders and one for Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Andrew Yang serves himself breakfast at the 7th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in Jan. 2020.

Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party Troy Price holds a press conference in Feb. 2020 regarding the muddled caucus results. Price would later resign as chairman 9 days after the caucuses.