DES Moines, Iowa — National Democrats launched more political ads targeting Congressional Republicans Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson and Zach Nunn.
The ad criticizes President Donald Trump’s trade policy and tariffs and will run on farmer focused YouTube and TV channels.
“The reality is, is these Republicans are complicit,” Ken Martin the DNC Chair said. “They could stand up to Donald Trump right now and tell him to end these tariffs and to actually open the markets around the world to create trading partners for your number one industry which is agriculture.”
NRCC spokesperson Emily Tuttle responded to the ads saying, “Democrats say they can win Iowa, but they couldn’t even find an actual Iowa farmer for their ad because folks here know better. Heartland voters demanded change after being ignored by Biden and now President Trump is leveling the playing field for producers.”
Now looking to the 2026 midterms, Martin claimed Iowa Republicans are vulnerable and he’s optimistic about Democrats chances.
“Iowans a very independent people right and they expect fairness and what they’re seeing right now out of this Republican party does not reflect their values and it gives us an opportunity,” Martin said. “It gives people like Rob Sand and other candidates running for office there an opportunity to actually deliver a message of hope that we are going to stand up and fight for Iowans.”
Yet, looking ahead to 2028 and the future of Iowa Democrats regaining their first-in-the-nation title back is still unclear.
“What’s important to me is there’s no predetermined outcome in terms of what the calendar looks like,” Martin said. “Everyone who wants to make a bid will have a fair shot and opportunity to actually make their case including Iowa.”
Iowa Democrats lost their first-in-the-nation caucuses back in 2024 and have since asked Iowans to fill out a survey asking what they should for 2028 if Iowa is once again left out of the early presidential nominating calendar.
Martin said him and the DNC Rules and Bylaws committee, who chooses the order of the calendar, will be looking for states that can test their nominees, is fair and cost efficient.
Despite Democrats not holding their caucuses first, Republicans went full speed ahead in 2024. Republican Presidential hopefuls flocked to the state, competing for Iowans votes. The state ended up majorly voting for President Trump in the general election.
Iowa’s News Now asked Martin if he thought it could Democrats if Republicans once again come to Iowa first in 2028 but Democrats don’t.
“Regardless of what happens in the decision the Democratic Party makes on the caucuses and whether or not Iowa’s back in the mix we are going to be competing in Iowa because we believe there’s real opportunity for us right now to actually win back many of those voters who used to vote with the Democratic Party who left us to vote for Trump and now wondering what the hell happened,” Martin said. “This guy is not helping me out, there’s a real opportunity. That’s what my focus is going to be is on making sure we have conversations with Iowans, not taking anything for granted and continuing to try and earn their votes.”
