2016 watch: Bernie Sanders returns to Iowa in February

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to Iowa next month, stoking expectations that he will run for president and conduct an Iowa caucuses campaign.

Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats and identifies himself a Democratic Socialist, will hold six events over three days in and around Iowa City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Ames.

He has visited Iowa repeatedly in recent months, most recently on Dec. 16 when he held a town meeting in Ames and was the keynote speaker at a Progress Iowa event. In all, Sanders spent eight days in Iowa and held 13 separate events in 2014.

He's said he's considering a presidential campaign but has made no commitments. If he did run, he would represent a more liberal alternative to presumptive Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Next month's trip was confirmed by a spokesman in Sanders' Senate office. As in past visits, Sanders will primarily hold meet-and-greet events in university communities and deliver speeches to progressive advocacy groups.

Here's the full schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 19:

• 7 p.m.: Town Meeting at the University of Iowa sponsored by the U.S. Student Association, Iowa City

Friday, Feb. 20:

• Noon: Town Meeting at Drake University, Des Moines

• 6 p.m.: Keynote address at Iowa Citizen Action Network annual meeting, Johnston

Saturday, Feb. 21:

• Noon: Meeting with the Linn Phoenix Club, Cedar Rapids

• 2:30 p.m.: Meeting organized by the Cedar County Democratic Party, Tipton

• 6:30 p.m.: Keynote speech at the Story County Democratic Party Soup Supper, Ames