The last few days leading up to the first-in-the-nation caucuses included candidate visits, protests, and eager supporters arriving at events in hope of meeting their candidate one last time before they left for New Hampshire. Through this photo series, I included frames of several events in Des Moines leading up to February 3rd and showing the stress of that night. The first few frames show President Donald Trump’s visit to Des Moines on January 30, which led to a national story depicting how security barred credentialed and approved media members and guests from entry. The following frames include moments from the caucus at Precinct 62 in Des Moines and a watch party for Former Vice President Joe Biden. The collective story is combined to show the various emotions, political views, and important processes involved leading up to this historic event.

Attendees wait for the arrival of Former Vice President Joe Biden during a watch party at the Olmstead Center at Drake University on Monday, February 3, 2020. Hundreds of people attended the event to hear Biden speak on the results of the caucus. (Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan)