Iowa Dems have once-in-a-generation opportunity (don’t blow it!)
Dear Iowa Democrats,
This is a plea, a request, an imploration for the party to change strategy for the upcoming 2026 mid-term elections and beyond. There is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Democrats to win one or more statewide elections, given the utter failure of the Iowa and national Repub/MAGA party. Please consider how their farm policies have failed in multiple ways:
Trump’s tariffs are resulting in corn prices below $4.00 a bushel and beans below $10. These prices are below break even for most Iowa farmers. Check the news.
These tariffs are absolutely terrible for Deere, Vermeer, Corteva, and practically every rural manufacturer who is now paying more for inputs. See Deere news.
Immigration raids are causing labor problems for meat packers in Ottumwa, Denison. See news on the ramifications of the ICE raids at the Omaha meat plant.
Trump’s Medicaid and health insurance cuts will soon hit the working poor in rural Iowa and their hospitals. Health care costs are going to skyrocket. See the news.
USDA Secretary is now canceling and discouraging wind and solar projects in rural America. These are money makers for Iowa farmers: one turbine = $10,000 yr lease.
It’s self-evident: the above facts favor the Iowa Dems on rural politics and policies. But Dems need to change strategy and messaging (e.g., We can do better!) for a reconstituted rural Iowa campaign. For way too many years, Dems have chosen to ignore rural Iowa. Because of this or the reason for it, Democratic candidates for statewide and Congressional offices have been out-of-touch with most Iowans. It was painful at times to witness their stale and weak campaigns and then the election results.
I recently attended an Iowa Dem lunch event with the four candidates running to replace Senator Ernst. This was in Story County, home to a large under-30 population. There were 100+ attendees (a very good Sunday turnout) but it was shocking for two reasons. First, there were way too many gray and white-haired attendees. I did a quick head count: there were less than 20 attendees under the age of 30. Second, each of four candidates as well as those in the audience were extolling the same Iowa Dem talking points from the last 25 years. Something has to change.
Things don’t change…until they do. Now’s the time for Iowa Dems to move to the middle with a renewed focus on rural Iowa as well as moderate Dems, Independents, voters under 30, and even moderate Repubs. Note: Iowa Dems used to represent rural Iowa at state and federal levels. Ya remember Tom Vilsack, Patty Judge, and Leonard Boswell?
And one way to kick off this new strategy is to actually develop and energize a rural Iowa campaign (see above). Develop some thick skin, use a ‘facts first…then agenda” approach, and campaign in those rural communities. And prepare to fight and persuade. The good news: it’s Oct 2025. Now’s the time to create and vet a meaningful campaign with a focus on rural Iowa.
There are bonuses for Iowa Dems if they can do this right:
It shows national Dems how rural politics can be won.
Winning rural politics make the Iowa caucuses nationally relevant again.
This “facts first…then agenda” approach can win other political battles: healthcare, economics, tax fairness, public safety, immigration, daycare, and education.
I consider myself a “good ole” Iowa moderate. I know this state quite well and have lived in multiple locations and worked with many companies in Iowa. I’ve participated in the 2018 Democratic Congressional primary for the 4th District, and also in each of the three of the last Presidential caucuses, since I moved back to Iowa.
Now’s the time to change. The opportunity is apparent. Don’t blow it!
Iowa Dems have once-in-a-generation opportunity (don’t blow it!)
Dear Iowa Democrats,
This is a plea, a request, an imploration for the party to change strategy for the upcoming 2026 mid-term elections and beyond. There is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Democrats to win one or more statewide elections, given the utter failure of the Iowa and national Repub/MAGA party. Please consider how their farm policies have failed in multiple ways:
It’s self-evident: the above facts favor the Iowa Dems on rural politics and policies. But Dems need to change strategy and messaging (e.g., We can do better!) for a reconstituted rural Iowa campaign. For way too many years, Dems have chosen to ignore rural Iowa. Because of this or the reason for it, Democratic candidates for statewide and Congressional offices have been out-of-touch with most Iowans. It was painful at times to witness their stale and weak campaigns and then the election results.
I recently attended an Iowa Dem lunch event with the four candidates running to replace Senator Ernst. This was in Story County, home to a large under-30 population. There were 100+ attendees (a very good Sunday turnout) but it was shocking for two reasons. First, there were way too many gray and white-haired attendees. I did a quick head count: there were less than 20 attendees under the age of 30. Second, each of four candidates as well as those in the audience were extolling the same Iowa Dem talking points from the last 25 years. Something has to change.
Things don’t change…until they do. Now’s the time for Iowa Dems to move to the middle with a renewed focus on rural Iowa as well as moderate Dems, Independents, voters under 30, and even moderate Repubs. Note: Iowa Dems used to represent rural Iowa at state and federal levels. Ya remember Tom Vilsack, Patty Judge, and Leonard Boswell?
And one way to kick off this new strategy is to actually develop and energize a rural Iowa campaign (see above). Develop some thick skin, use a ‘facts first…then agenda” approach, and campaign in those rural communities. And prepare to fight and persuade. The good news: it’s Oct 2025. Now’s the time to create and vet a meaningful campaign with a focus on rural Iowa.
There are bonuses for Iowa Dems if they can do this right:
Now’s the time to change. The opportunity is apparent. Don’t blow it!