Iowa Democrats see signs of optimism for 2026 despite state's hard-right turn
Tom Vilsack won the Iowa governorship in 1998 by telling voters that it was “time to rotate the crops” and cast off three decades of Republican rule.
Now some Democrats are reviving that sentiment as they make a new pitch to make gains in a state that has shifted sharply to the right in recent years.
“We’ve got some real opportunities here in 2026, and it’s evidenced by the fact that we have so many candidates who are throwing their hat in the ring,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said. “It’s time for a change to bring things back to [the] middle ground.’’
Democrats point to several reasons for their optimism. Less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the party flipped a state Senate seat the president had carried by double digits and then overperformed in two subsequent legislative special elections. Democrats also say Trump’s trade policies could have a negative impact on the state, especially its all-important agriculture sector.
https://rollcall.com/2025/06/11/iowa-democrats-midterm-elections/