Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart warned Wednesday against viewing her party’s biggest victories in years as a mandate. She said voters who flipped the governor’s office, a U.S. Senate seat and three House seats want elected officials to work together and address their concerns about costs and corruption.
“This is not a mandate. This is a cry for help,” Hart told reporters during a virtual news conference.
Democrat Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn to become the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa since Chet Culver in 2006. Josh Turek became the first Iowa Democrat to be elected to the U.S. Senate since Tom Harkin’s re-election in 2008. Democrats Sarah Trone Garriott, Lindsay James and Christina Bohannan won three of Iowa’s four seats in the House of Representatives.
Democrats also won elections for attorney general and state auditor. Hart said the party broke the Republican supermajority in the Iowa House and performed well in the state Senate. Republicans retained control of both chambers, leaving Sand to work with Republican lawmakers on his agenda.
Asked about her future as party chair, Hart said her term ends in two years and she wanted to celebrate with the people who helped secure Tuesday’s victories. She did not directly say whether she might step down or seek another term.
Madeleine King
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Iowa Public Radio
Echoes of 2018, with bigger gains in Iowa
Tuesday evening, there was a feeling of déjà vu. For the second time under President Donald Trump, Democrats faced a midterm backlash to take control of the House of Representatives. In Iowa, they won three of the state’s four seats in the House of Representatives, as they did in 2018.
This time, Democrats also flipped the governorship, which Republicans held in 2018, and won a seat in the U.S. Senate. When asked how Tuesday compared, Hart said the night felt different. She credited years of organizing and a slate of candidates who she said listened to voters and earned their trust.
“It takes organization, listening, resources and also excellent candidates,” Hart said.
Hart said Democrats have begun rebuilding the county’s party organizations and raising money to hire staff in January 2023. The effort has expanded to 65 field organizers and 35 field offices, she said, with volunteers knocking on thousands of doors. She said one-on-one conversations give candidates and organizers an opportunity to hear directly from voters.
Tuesday’s victories strengthen Iowa Democrats’ case for a top spot on the 2028 presidential nominating schedule, but their chances depend on whether newly elected Democrats can deliver results and whether the party continues to engage with voters between elections, Hart said.
Madeleine King
/
Iowa Public Radio
She said she has not yet spoken with the Democratic National Committee about what those victories might mean for Iowa’s place in the presidential caucus schedule. She said she would speak with newly elected Iowa Democrats before continuing discussions with the national party.
The Democratic schedule prioritizes South Carolina and leaves Iowa out of the early voting window for the second consecutive presidential cycle. Iowa opened the Democratic nominating process from 1972 to 2020. The DNC knocked Iowa out of first place ahead of the 2024 election after reporting and technology lapses delayed the 2020 caucus results and amid criticism of the accessibility of the caucuses and how they represented Democratic voters.
The Republicans, meanwhile, will keep Iowa in the lead in 2028.
Republicans retain influence in the Statehouse
Hart highlighted state budget problems, public school funding and Medicaid privatization as areas where Democrats will need cooperation from Republicans. Regarding private school scholarships, she said lawmakers could examine how the money is spent and what accountability requirements and restrictions should apply.
Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann acknowledged the losses Tuesday night at the GOP watch party in Des Moines.
John Pemble
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Iowa Public Radio
“Well, look, I’m not going to sugarcoat tonight. It’s a disappointing night. There’s no doubt about it,” Kaufmann told his supporters.
Kaufmann pointed to the historical trend of the president’s party losing ground in the midterm elections and said Republican control of the Iowa Legislature would serve as a check on Sand. He praised Lahn for holding his ground during a contested primary and general election and urged him to stay involved in Iowa politics.
“Rob Sand’s victory does not give him a blank check,” Kaufmann said in a written statement. He said Republican lawmakers should respond if Sand pursues policies they oppose.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who did not seek re-election, said in a written statement Wednesday that she called Sand that morning to congratulate him and pledged to help prepare his administration to take office.
“Now that the election is over, it’s time to work together to ensure Iowa remains the best state in the country to live, work and raise a family for generations to come,” Reynolds said in the release. “My team and I will do our part to ensure the new administration is ready for its first day in office. Iowans deserve nothing less.”
Hart also defended the party’s commitment to civil rights for transgender Iowans after a reporter asked whether Turek’s opposition to taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care marked a broader shift. She acknowledged differences among Democrats on how to approach the issue and said the party’s candidates and elected officials agree that no one should be deprived of their civil rights.
Madeleine King
/
Iowa Public Radio
She cautioned Democrats against taking Tuesday’s victories or the enthusiasm behind them for granted. She said voters want elected officials to work across party lines and find lasting solutions. Otherwise, she warned, voters could swing back to Republicans as quickly as they turned to Democrats.
“People are tired of this. We’re done with this, and it’s time to do a good job of governance,” Hart said.
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