Iowa Democrats’ Chair Rita Hart touts strongest ticket ‘in a generation’ for 2026

Iowa Democrats are fielding their strongest crop of candidates “in a generation,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said at a fundraiser to rally the party one year out from the midterm elections.

“I know one thing about these candidates: They care so deeply about their communities, and they know that Iowa can do better,” she said at the party’s annual Liberty & Justice dinner in downtown Des Moines Sunday, Nov. 9. “I’m also confident in 2026 that we will have the strongest Democratic ticket in Iowa in a generation.”

Hart touted Democrats’ overperformance in four special elections in the state as well as Democrats’ gains in the 2025 off-year elections earlier this month.

Democrats swept a pair of gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia by big margins while Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani cruised to victory in New York City’s mayoral election.

Hart said Democrats must maintain their momentum, and she said they would win over voters by keeping their focus on working people.

“It is clear, the path to victory is paved by continuing to be a party that was built on and for working people,” she said. “The Democratic victories that we saw nationwide last Tuesday and the special election victories in Iowa show that people are hearing our message.”

She said Democrats will win by talking about issues such as the economy, affordability, job creation, protecting public schools and lowering the cost of health care and child care.

She contrasted that with Republicans, who she said are focused on “keeping in place the disastrous Trump tariffs, racking up our national debt, increasing health care costs and cutting SNAP benefits — taking away food from our seniors, people with disabilities and from children.”

“It’s just plain cruel, and it serves no one,” Hart said.

The federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now the longest in U.S. history, even as the U.S. Senate appeared to be moving toward a deal late in the day Nov. 9.

The shutdown has caused a lapse in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food assistance to 42 million low-income Americans. That includes more than 260,000 people in Iowa who rely on the money to help pay for healthy food.

But Hart promised there is “hope on the horizon” for Democrats to regain power in Iowa and Washington, D.C.

“And we are going to lead the way,” she said. “In 2026, all eyes will be on Iowa.”

Iowa races are wide-open in 2026 with high-profile Republican incumbents Kim Reynolds and Joni Ernst foregoing gubernatorial and U.S. Senate reelection bids.

At the event, Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Senate spoke in person, while congressional and other statewide candidates delivered brief video messages.

Iowa’s Democratic U.S. Senate candidates decry deal to end government shutdown without ACA guarantee

As the evening event unfolded, news began to emerge that Democrats in the U.S. Senate had reached a deal with Republicans to vote to reopen the federal government. National media reported the group of centrists Democrats agreed in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, leading to increased health insurance premiums in 2026.

The enhanced tax credits provide assistance to those making more than 400% of the federal poverty level, as well as making plans more affordable for currently eligible enrollees.

Democratic Senate candidate Nathan Sage said during his speech at the Liberty & Justice dinner that he opposed the deal that was still coming together.

“If we learned anything from (election results) Tuesday night, it’s that people need affordability,” he said. “… People need a life where they can actually afford the food and afford the health care they need. It seems like we don’t have leadership that’s willing to fight for that.”

Sage is the former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce director and U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army veteran. He was the first Democrat to jump into the race when he announced his candidacy in April.

On the campaign trail, he has focused on how to bring more working class and economically struggling people back into the Democratic Party.

Josh Turek, a state representative and Paralympian from Council Bluffs, has centered his U.S. Senate campaign on health care issues.

On stage, he recounted being born with spina bifida, which led him to undergo 21 surgeries before the age of 12. Turek, a wheelchair user, became the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa House when he was elected in 2022.

“I believe that health care is a human right and we need legislators who are going to fight for it,” he said.

After the event, he released a statement decrying the deal.

“Without ACA subsidies, 125,000 Iowans will see their premiums double or triple,” he said. “No one in the richest country on Earth should have to choose between health care and putting food on the table. No protection for health care, no deal.”

State Sen. Zach Wahls, of Coralville, recalled onstage a time growing up when his mothers, Terry and Jackie, struggled to pay medical bills after Terry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“If it had not been for Jackie’s union contract, we would have been overwhelmed by medical bills,” he said.

After the event, he released a statement saying, “Senate Democrats shouldn’t cave.”

“When working families’ health care is on the line, you fight,” he said.

A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee criticized Iowa’s Democratic candidates.

“Democrats are so scared of their radical base that 40 days of Schumer shutdown pain on the American people for political ‘leverage’ still isn’t enough,” NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in a statement.

Iowa’s Senate seat is open after Ernst announced she would not seek reelection in 2026.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has launched a campaign and is the GOP field’s expected frontrunner.

Former state legislator Jim Carlin and former Libertarian candidate Joshua Smith are also running as Republicans.

Gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand, Julie Stauch make appeals to Democrats

The two Democratic candidates for governor, state Auditor Rob Sand and political consultant Julie Stauch, also spoke.

Sand decried the single-party control of Iowa’s government. Republicans have held a trifecta in the Legislature and governor’s office since 2017.

“The people in the Capitol building in Des Moines who are running our state government are serving insiders and special interest groups,” he said. “They’re not serving Iowans. And it’s time for change.”

He said Iowans have a chance to “elect new representation for the state of Iowa up and down the ballot.”

Sand also said some Republicans have “mocked” his campaign trail tradition of asking the crowd to sing the first verse of “America the Beautiful.”

“So that’s how I’m going to end this speech tonight,” he said, asking the crowd to join him in song.

Stauch called herself a “proud Democrat” who has been traveling the state to hear from Iowans. She said there are three big issues she’s hearing on the campaign trail.

“They do not like drinking poisoned water. Funny how that is. They want clean water,” she said. “They do not like the voucher program. And they want our public schools fully funded. And third, health care.”

Stauch said on her first day in office she would appoint an environmentalist to lead the Department of Natural Resources and charge that person with taking the lead on clean water initiatives.

She said she would also refocus the state’s education savings account program on low-income families while ultimately trying to pass legislation to eliminate it. That program uses taxpayer dollars to help families pay tuition to private schools.

Stouch said she’s optimistic about Democrats’ chances in 2026.

“Keep hope alive, keep working and we can do this,” she said.

Five Republicans have launched campaigns for governor: State Rep. Eddie Andrews, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra; businessman Zach Lahn; former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen. State Sen. Mike Bousselot has also formed an exploratory committee.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly touts Iowa ties and hints at 2028 election cycle

Arizona Democrat, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, had been slated to deliver the night’s keynote address alongside his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords.

But the U.S. Senate convened Sunday as lawmakers worked to reach a deal to end the U.S. government shutdown, and Kelly could not attend in person.

Kelly, a Navy combat veteran, engineer and NASA astronaut, instead delivered a video address.

“We have to use this energy and this momentum from this week to organize, mobilize and work as a team,” he said. “In the Navy and at NASA, I learned what it means to work as a team. I flew in combat nearly 40 times and I flew in space four times. Not once did I do it by myself.”

Kelly is among a crop of Democrats thought to be eying a potential run for president in 2028. And even though Iowa Democrats no longer hold their first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, politicians’ travel to the Hawkeye State still attracts attention.

Kelly touted his family’s Iowa ties — his wife’s brother was a kicker for Iowa State football — and gave a nod to the 2028 presidential race as well as the coming midterms.

“That’s why I’m grateful to be working alongside all of you to win in 2026 and 2028 so we can deliver for Americans in Iowa, Arizona and across the country,” he said.

Giffords, who is also an advocate for reducing gun violence, attended the event in person and spoke about the struggle to relearn to speak after she was shot in the head in an attempted assassination in 2011.

“America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words,” she said.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrats have strongest ticket ‘in a generation,’ chair says