Iowa Democrats have a rare opportunity for party building before the 2026 general election. Our governor is the least popular in the nation and Republican activists don’t really like their field of primary candidates, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. That includes Randy Feenstra who hails from the most conservative part of the state and is the current favorite in their gubernatorial primary. Lack of talent never stopped Republicans, though.
Our neighbors in Minnesota are largely what is driving the opportunity I see. People just don’t like how federal agents are on the streets terrorizing U.S. citizens. Dislike is turning into action with more public demonstrations against the Trump and Reynolds administrations during the last year than I can count. Led by large, national groups, as well as by locals, millions of people across the country are being activated in the political process, including in Iowa. Not only are people participating in demonstrations and direct action, some of them showed up at our party caucus for the first time on Feb. 2.
I served as site leader for seven precinct caucuses and going in, I knew no one from my precinct who planned to attend. We did manage 32 people for seven precincts. I was surprised when three voters I did not know appeared in my group.
With the City of Solon’s annexation of a large, new subdivision, when the precinct lines were redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census, we gained some neighbors. To a person, those who caucused with us were trying it out to see what local Democratic politics is about. That has been rare in my political life and is the reason for my optimism about party-building. I had to tap the deep well of memory to remember why we have precinct caucuses and explain the statewide process meaningfully.
I don’t know the future of Iowa politics, but Democrats are on the cusp of something big. The first step is to recognize the opportunity. Hope remains for Iowa politics.
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