The 2016 presidential election is still almost two years away, but potential candidates are already lining up to visit Iowa, where the first presidential caucus takes place. 

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is teaming with the conservative group Citizens United. Together, they will host over a dozen conservative politicians at the first ‘Iowa Freedom Summit.’

The Summit is scheduled for Jan. 24 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.

“Midterm elections gave our country a dramatic shift in possibilities. It is exactly the right time to bring our national leaders to Iowa to hear them cast a conservative vision for our nation’s future,” King said in a statement. “The Iowa Freedom Summit will further energize conservatives and begin the caucus season in earnest.”

The event will feature several figures who have publicly expressed interest in running in the 2016 presidential races, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Arkansas governor turned FOX News host Mike Huckabee, the neurosurgeon turned FOX News commentator Dr. Ben Carson. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and businessman Donald Trump have expressed interest in running, too. 

“Everyone who is attending wants to be a part of the presidential nominating process,” said David Andersen, assistant professor in political science. “Some people, like Santorum, Carson, Cruz and Huckabee, clearly want to be candidates and are trying to win supporters.”

Other national figures including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and former US Ambassador John Bolton, have also been confirmed for the event.

“[The others], like Gingrich and King, just want to influence the issues that come up during the presidential nomination process and how candidates talk about them,” Andersen said. “This event is an early test of who the front-runners might be for the Republican nomination and what the party platform might look like.”

Longtime Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, who was elected in November to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley in Iowa’s first congressional district, will also speak at the event.

Tickets for the event are currently sold out, but a wait list is available for those wishing to attend at www.iowafreedomsummit.com.

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Story County Democrats are hoping to bring some potential 2016 contenders to Ames for a February event.

An official with the Story County Democrats said they are still working out details, but are planning for a Feb. 7 date for an event to bring a dozen potential 2016 Democratic candidates to Ames.

A location for the event is still being worked out, the official said.

Former Secretary of State, first lady and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton has been shown to be the presumptive front-runner for the Democratic nomination. A recent CNN/ORC poll showed Clinton receiving support from 66 percent of Democratic voters.

Even with the lead, Story County Democrats are also planning to invite other names that have floated around as presidential candidates, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Vice President Joe Biden, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb.

Webb is the only Democrat to officially begin the process of running. Webb has launched a website for an exploratory committee to begin the work of a 2016 campaign.

The official said they were also planning to invite U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who drew a crowd of about 200 attendees at a Dec. 16 event in Ames. The liberal senator is one of only two independents in Congress, but has stated he may seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.

The official said they hoped to have more details on the event and confirm any speakers in the coming weeks.