Dubuque—Iowa caucus voters have frequently rejected announced candidates and chosen uncommitted delegate slates.

It’s a way of protesting the paucity of appealing candidates, and of maintaining options as the race evolves.

Since the caucuses became a national phenomenon in the 1970s, “Uncommitted” slates have won two Democratic contests and secured a second place finish as recently as 1992. Republican contests have frequently featured credible finishes by “Uncommitted” slates and “No Preference” votes—in 1988, they beat Alexander Haig; in 1980, they beat Bob Dole.

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