Iowa Democrats have struggled in state politics in recent years after losing multiple elections and legislation to Republicans, The New York Times reported Friday.
Iowa was long a purple state until the successes of former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 disappointed the state’s Democrats. according to to the New York Times. Democrats in Iowa told the New York Times they were exhausted by the numerous election losses in recent years, which saw Republicans take control of the state legislature, congressional delegations, win the Senate and retain the governorship. told the New York Times.
“It’s so bad,” Democratic Senator Claire Sersi told the NYT. “I can’t even explain how bad it is.” (Related: State legislators across the country are ditching Democrats for Republicans: Report)
Former Democrat Rep. Dave Loebsack, who retired in 2020 and turned red, also expressed disappointment at the party’s loss to the NYT.
“There is no doubt that the Democratic Party is at its lowest point in Iowa,” Loebsack said. “It’s hard to recruit candidates when you’re outnumbered like this.”
Iowa has elected former President Barack Obama twice and has voted Democrat in every presidential election since 1988, except for former President George Bush in 2004. according to Up to 270toWin. 2016, then-President Trump beat Nearly 10 points ahead of Hillary Clinton lost According to Politico, President Joe Biden’s approval rating in 2020 is 53.2% to 45%.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds When President Trump took office in 2017, appointed Governor Terry Branstad becomes U.S. Ambassador to China. Reynolds won the first election in 2018 by a margin of 2.8 points, overwhelmingly securing re-election by nearly 20 points.
DES MOINES, Iowa – January 30: US President Donald Trump kisses Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on the cheek during a campaign rally inside Drake University’s Knap Center Arena. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
Republican Party Control Both houses of the state legislature and all four delegations of the Iowa legislature and Republicans. Marianette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson and Randy Feenstra Win seats in 2021, and Zach Nunn be defeated Democratic incumbent Cindy Axon in 2022. Both Senate seats are also held by Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.
Democrats have not announced their candidacy for three of the seats slated for reelection in 2024, according to the NYT.
“You should have a candidate who thinks, ‘I’ll take a little rest and I’ll win,'” Pete D’Alessandro, former senior aide to the independent Vermont senator in Bernie Sanders’ last Iowa presidential campaign, told The New York Times. . “Our failure to do so is a direct reflection of the years of incompetent political parties.”
Des Moines and Cedar Rapids are the only two major cities and college towns in Iowa where the Democrats are likely to continue to win, according to the NYT.
Not only have Democrats lost elections in recent years, but they also face several bills successfully promoted by Republicans, according to the New York Times. Reynolds signed a six-week abortion ban in mid-July and a new school choice program in January.
“It’s really exhausting and frustrating to keep making losses,” Democratic state senator Sarah Tron Garriott told The New York Times. “Had I known everything I was facing, I wouldn’t have run in the first place because it would have been really hard, but I think Iowa has a lot of opportunities.”
The Iowa Democratic Party did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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