2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

2019 Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Celebration in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 9, 2019

2019 Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame Celebration in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 9, 2019

We’re so excited to be bringing one of our premier events to Cedar Rapids this year.

Tickets will go on sale soon, and they'll sell out fast! RSVP now to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.

Iowa Democratic Party to Honor Fred & Charlotte Hubbell at 2019 Hall of Fame
Celebration to Feature at least 9 Presidential candidates, other honorees

DES MOINES – Today, the Iowa Democratic Party announced it will be inducting eleven Iowans into its Hall of Fame, including long-time Democratic Party supporters Fred & Charlotte Hubbell. The event will take place on Sunday, June 9, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“We’re honored to recognize these outstanding Iowans who have done so much to help grow and support our Party; this will be a tremendous celebration of the spirit of the Iowa Democratic Party,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price. “We’re also honored to have joining us several candidates who are looking to take back the White House and restore dignity and morality to the highest office in the land.”

Featured speakers will include presidential candidates including Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, John Delaney, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, John Hickenlooper, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Andrew Yang. Each of these candidates have met a threshold to participate; more candidates could be announced at a later date.

WHAT: Iowa Democratic Party featuring 2020 presidential candidates and Hall of Fame Award Recipients
WHEN: Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM CDT
WHERE: DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids, 350 1st Ave NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
The following Iowans will be honored with awards at the Hall of Fame Celebration:
• Fred and Charlotte Hubbell, Outstanding Supporters
• College and Young Democrats of Iowa, Outstanding SCC Member
• Sioux County Democrats, Outstanding Democratic Party Chair
• Cindy & Elwood Garlock, Outstanding Activists
• Representative Ras Smith, Rising Star

https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/iowa/event/87268/?

Meet and Greet With John Hickenlooper in Charles City, Iowa on Saturday, March 9, 2019

Meet and Greet With John Hickenlooper in Charles City, Iowa on Saturday, March 9, 2019

Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 10:30 AM

101 N Main St, Charles City, Iowa

https://www.facebook.com/events/1041061566081309/

Jay Inslee to Launch ‘Climate Mission Tour’ This Week, Visit Iowa on Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Inslee to Launch ‘Climate Mission Tour’ This Week
Inslee to travel to Iowa on Tuesday, Nevada on Saturday in first trip as presidential candidate

Seattle - Governor Jay Inslee will kick off his 2020 presidential bid with a multi-state “Climate Mission Tour.” Inslee’s tour starts this week in Iowa and Nevada.

The “Climate Mission Tour” will focus on the opportunity to create millions of jobs throughout the country while defeating the greatest challenge of our time—climate change. Gov. Inslee will meet workers in the clean energy economy, talk with students and environmental activists, and hear from people around the country about the impacts of climate change and the need to invest in clean energy job growth.

Governor Inslee is the only presidential candidate that will make defeating climate change the top priority. After announcing his presidential bid on Friday, Inslee will start his “Climate Mission Tour” off in Iowa on Tuesday, March 5th with stops in Cedar Rapids, Ames, and Des Moines. The governor will travel to Nevada later in the week. Additional travel will be announced shortly.

Defeating climate change has been the driving force of the Governor’s public life and will be the focus of his bid for president.

Details of the Iowa visit are below:

Tuesday, March 5th:

Clean energy tour - SiteGen Solar, Paulson Electric, 3050 12th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA

12:30 PM CST

Paulson Electric is an Iowa-based full service electrical contracting company with over 150 employees serving eastern Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The Cedar Rapids office includes a 20.7kw solar photovoltaic array on the roof which produces one-third of the company’s annual energy usage.

Student clean energy roundtable - Iowa State University, 1124 Biorenewables Research Lab, 617 Bissell Rd Ames, IA

3:30 PM CST

Student leaders will present their work on climate change to Governor Inslee and talk about what they’re doing to fight climate change both on campus and beyond.

West Des Moines climate gathering - Law offices of Lawyer, Lawyer, Dutton & Drake, 1415 Grand Ave West Des Moines, IA

7:00 PM CST

Local climate change activists will gather to talk with Governor Inslee about their climate change concerns, what they’re doing to address it locally, and the actions they want to see their next president take.

Governor Inslee will be in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 9th.

Meet and Greet with John Delaney in Charles City Iowa on Sunday, March 17, 2019

Meet and Greet with John Delaney in Charles City Iowa on Sunday, March 17, 2019

Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 1 PM

101 N Main St, Charles City IA

https://www.facebook.com/events/385540068843384/

First Iowa Elected Official Endorsement Goes to Cory Booker

Amy Nielsen is the first Iowa elected official to endorse any candidate for President in 2020

Des Moines, IA -- This morning, Representative Amy Nielsen became the first Iowa elected official to endorse Cory Booker for President in 2020.

Representative Nielsen hails from North Liberty, Iowa, and is serving her second term in the Iowa House of Representatives. A staunch public education advocate and former mayor of North Liberty, Representative Nielsen is also the first Iowa elected official to endorse any candidate for President in 2020.

Representative Nielsen announced her endorsement in a video posted to Twitter this morning followed by an exclusive guest post on Iowa Starting Line.

IOWA STARTING LINE: America Needs A Leader Who Can Bring Us Together
“We need a leader who will unite us instead of seeking opportunities to divide us. We need a leader who isn’t afraid to tackle our nation’s toughest problems by putting forward bold solutions.

I believe that leader is Cory Booker, which is why I’m excited to endorse Cory for President of the United States.

Iowans can trust Cory to have their backs. Throughout his career, he has taken on big challenges to lift up those most in need of help. He knows that we can’t achieve the American Dream by going it alone.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE: Rep. Amy Nielsen becomes first Iowa lawmaker to endorse 2020 hopeful
“As a former mayor myself, I know the types of tough decisions that you must make when you are the city’s chief executive officer and how that prepares you to tackle big things in the future,” Nielsen said.

Booker is part of a growing field of candidates competing in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. Although the pace of the campaign has picked up rapidly over the last month, there have been few endorsements.

POLITICO: Iowa lawmaker becomes first to endorse Booker
Nielsen’s nod comes as 2020 presidential candidates trek through Iowa this month to lay early groundwork in an already crowded primary field.

Earlier this month, Nielsen and Booker held a joint event in Cedar Rapids. Booker also attended a fundraiser for Nielsen at a local event last October after Booker headlined the state Democratic Party’s Fall Gala. At the time, Booker traveled throughout the state plugging Democrats and raising money for the party in the midterm elections.

Marianne Williamson Back in Iowa on March 1-3, 2019

Marianne Williamson Back in Iowa on March 1-3, 2019

Marianne Williamson, will be back in Iowa this Friday, starting with a conversation about poverty in America with JD Scholten in Carroll, Iowa, then Saturday stops in Creston, Denison and Jefferson and Sunday night at Creative Visions for a roundtable discussion with members of the Iowa Black Caucus

CARROLL, IOWA
Friday, March 1 at 7:00pm
JD Scholten Co-Event - ‘Poverty in America'
Carrollton Hotel & Event Center/Charlie's Steakhouse
1730 Hwy 71, North Carroll, Iowa

CRESTON, IOWA
Saturday, March 2 at 8:00am
Union County Off-Year Caucus
Creston Depot
100 W. Adams, Creston, Iowa

DENISON, IOWA
Saturday, March 2 at 11:00am
Donna Reed Theatre
1305 Broadway, Denison, Iowa

JEFFERSON, IOWA
Saturday, March 2 at 2:00pm
Town Hall with Greene County Democrats
Thomas Jefferson Gardens
201 E. Lincoln Way, Jefferson, Iowa

DES MOINES, IOWA
Sunday, March 3 at 7:00pm
Iowa Black Caucus
Creative Visions
1343 13th St. Des Moines IA

What They’re Saying: About Secretary Julián Castro’s First Trip to the Hawkeye State

What They’re Saying: Iowans Wowed By Secretary Castro’s First Trip to the Hawkeye State

SAN ANTONIO, TX, (February 25, 2019) — In case you missed it, late last week and over the weekend, Secretary Julián Castro barnstormed Iowa, visiting big cities and small towns to hear from voters and caucus-goers in the Hawkeye state about the issues that are important to them. Overwhelmingly, Iowans were impressed by Julián’s eagerness to travel to communities not typically visited by Democratic presidential hopefuls, and that he didn’t focus on big rallies or isolated gatherings with party leaders.

"He came from Orange City, he's going to Buena Vista County,” Iowa State Senator Al Sturgeon told KCAU ABC 9. “He's going to some of the areas where Democrats don't do that well to say we're a party for everybody, every county, every state and I think that's the type of courage you need.”

“I just think it’s really important that Julián, as a candidate of color, is willing to come to our district — immediately,” Brigham Hoegh, chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Audubon County, told the Texas Tribune. “He could’ve written us off and said, ‘I’ll spend time in Des Moines and Iowa City’ and whatnot, but he came here, right away.”

Secretary Castro reiterated on the road that although he’s not currently a front runner, his vision for our country’s future will resonate strongly with Iowans and all Americans ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Secretary Castro made 13 stops over three days in his first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate, prioritizing intimate gatherings with voters in rural communities over large, staged events in big cities. A number of articles underscore how impressed Iowan voters were with Secretary Castro’s message on the road this weekend.

The Denver Post noted that Secretary Castro “edged out the competition” at Saturday’s Story County Democrats Soup Supper in Ames featuring Senator Kamala Harris and Governor John Hickenlooper. “He had a lot of good things to say,” Bry Walton told the Denver Post, adding that he reminds her of former President Barack Obama. “Castro’s story of giving up his job as an attorney in order to cast a vote against a client while on the San Antonio City Council was especially powerful, Walton said.”

“He’s the only candidate here,” said J.D. Scholten, former candidate for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District to the Dallas Morning News. “We’ve seen it in the past. If you work your tail off and you know retail politics, it’s anyone’s game.”

“I’ve been following the Castro brothers for years, always interested in their political careers,” said Heather Chamberlin, an east side resident of Des Moines, following Secretary Castro’s town hall at Grandview University. “I came out here because I was thrilled to see what Julián had to offer,” Heather said, underscoring the importance she places on gun violence prevention policy. “He’s out here promising positive solutions that everyone can agree on. He’s out here to make change. He has passed my litmus test and I’m supporting him.”

Carolyn Klaus, a 69-year-old Ames resident, told the Des Moines Register that she appreciates Secretary Castro’s “focus on the people.” Judith Lemish, a 59-year-old pharmacy technician from Ames, said she was drawn to Julian’s youth and energy.

Secretary Castro’s trip comes on the heels of his campaign’s announcement that he plans to visit all 50 states during the primary and ahead of his first trip to Idaho and Utah later this week. In a video posted to the campaign's website, Julián asked voters to invite him to their hometown while the campaign maps out the Secretary’s travel in the weeks ahead.

Elizabeth Warren at The Lingonberry in Decorah, Iowa on Friday, March 1, 2019

Elizabeth Warren House Party in Decorah, Iowa on Friday, March 1, 2019

Sign up here to join Elizabeth Warren for a house party in Decorah this Friday.

Here are the details:

Senator Warren will be in Decorah Friday, March 1, 2019, 5:45.

Due to high interest, the location for the Decorah House Party with Senator Warren has been moved to The Lingonberry, 218 W Water St in Decorah. The doors will open at 5:00 pm and the event will begin at 6:00 pm.

Doors open for the event at 4:45 PM. Event begins at 5:45 PM.

https://my.elizabethwarren.com/page/s/join-elizabeth-in-decorah-?

Pete Buttigieg To Visit Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 4, 2019

Mayor Pete Buttigieg To Visit Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids
Marks Second Trip Since Announcing Presidential Exploratory Committee

On Monday, March 4th Mayor Pete Buttigieg will return to Iowa for his second trip since announcing his presidential exploratory committee.

He will be hosting meet and greets with Democrats in Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.

Monday, March 4th

12:00 PM: Davenport - Meet and Greet
• Location: Brew in the Village, 1104 Jersey Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA 52803
• Host: Scott County Democrats

2:30 PM: Iowa City - Meet and Greet
• Location: The Airliner
• Host: University of Iowa College Dems/Spectrum UI

https://www.facebook.com/events/410412869502674/

4:30 PM: Cedar Rapids - Meet and Greet
• Location: Dublin City Pub
• Host: Linn County Democrats

 

Julián Castro Announces New Iowa Campaign Staff

Julián Castro Announces New Iowa Campaign Staff
Former HUD Secretary announces new Iowa campaign staff as he closes his first state visit since announcing presidential campaign

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 23, 2019) – On Saturday, at the close of his first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate, former Obama Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Mayor of San Antonio, Julián Castro, announced key new hires in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Cynthia Sebian-Lander, who most recently served as the campaign manager for Deidre DeJear’s campaign for Iowa Secretary of State, will join the campaign as the Iowa State Director, overseeing the campaign's operation in the caucus state. Marika Bresler, who most recently served as Deputy Campaign Manager for the Colin Allred for Congress (TX-32) campaign and has previously organized field efforts in Iowa, will join the campaign as Iowa Organizing Director.

“I’m very excited to welcome Cynthia and Marika to our growing campaign staff while in Iowa as a candidate for President,” said Julián Castro. “Their vast institutional knowledge of the state as well as their exceptional experience organizing grassroots initiatives at the local, state, and national levels will be invaluable to our efforts to reach every possible voter all over the state during this primary.”

From Thursday, February 21 to Saturday, February 23, Secretary Castro made his first trip as a candidate for President to Iowa. Secretary Castro joined students and Democratic activists at a town hall, held small coffee meet-and-greets with caucus voters in rural areas, and visited some of Iowa’s most diverse communities.

Cynthia Sebian-Lander is an organizer who has worked on political and issue campaigns across the country. In 2018, she was Campaign Manager for Deidre DeJear who ran for Iowa Secretary of State. She helped Deidre make history during the primary as the first African American woman nominated by a major party for statewide office in Iowa. Prior to that, in 2016, Cynthia joined Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in Iowa as the Statewide Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Director. Before heading to Iowa, Cynthia worked for the national League of Women Voters, specializing in voting rights and advocating for voting reforms across the country. She has experience working in organized labor with AFSCME; reproductive freedom with Planned Parenthood; environmental advocacy; and political campaigns in Alaska, New Hampshire and Virginia.

Marika Bresler is a grassroots campaign professional who has worked campaigns in Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and Texas. She served as a Campus Organizer for Barack Obama's re-election campaign, Youth Organizing Director for Wendy Davis' gubernatorial race, Field Director for NextGen Climate Iowa, Organizing Director for the US Senate Campaign for Jason Kander and Deputy Coordinated Director for the Missouri Democratic Party. Most recently she served as Campaign Manager/Deputy Campaign Manager for Colin Allred's successful 2018 congressional campaign.