Winneshiek County caucuses kick off 2014 political season

Checking the party registration lists

Voters will have several important choices to make in this November's election, including a U.S. Senate race and a House of Representatives race for which there will be no incumbents on the ballot.

So Tuesday night's caucuses of Winneshiek County Republicans and Democrats were important organizational events for both parties.

Despite that fact, attendance at both events seem to be limited to long-time party volunteers, without the crowds of newcomers that characterized the caucuses six years ago, during the first campaign of Barack Obama.

Both Republicans and Democrats have elected delegates to county conventions later this year in Decorah, which will then elect delegates to go to state conventions.

Tuesday's events were chances for local candidates to warm up their campaign speeches and shake hands.  But both caucuses were low-key events, with the main activity to come later in 2014.