The Political Process  Political parties play an important role
in the political process. Parties nominate candidates, promote
voter registration, publicize candidates’ views, raise money for
campaigns and help build agreement on major issues.  Two Major
Parties  There are two major political parties in Iowa, the
Republicans and the Democrats. For nearly a century after the
Civil War, the Republican Party was the stronger party and won
most elections. In the 1950s, however, the Democrats began to
gain strength. Many Iowa voters often split their ballots
between the two parties. They may vote for the Republican
candidates for some offices and Democrats for others in the same
election. This keeps the two parties very competitive.
Candidates for State Offices  In Iowa party candidates for state
offices—such as governor—are selected through a primary
election, usually in the spring before the November election.
Candidates ask voters to sign their names to a petition, and
when the candidate has enough signatures,