Iowa

progressoid

(50,743 posts) Wed Mar 3, 2021, 04:15 PM Mar 2021

Iowa Democratic heavyweights joining forces to figure out how to win elections again

After a round of "heartbreaking" losses in 2020, a group of Iowa Democratic heavyweights are banding together to take stock of what went wrong and how to bring the party back to relevance in 2022.

Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, first lady Christie Vilsack, former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, former state Sen. Jack Hatch, 2018 governor candidate Fred Hubbell, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn and Democratic donor Harry Bookey are leading the effort.

The group — which is calling itself the "Hughes Project" after former Iowa Gov. Harold Hughes — is circulating a survey to Democrats at every level of state and local politics to gauge what went well and what fell flat.

Democrats invested heavily in the 2020 election, feeling confident in their candidates and organization. But they were surprised by heavy losses once the votes were counted.
...https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/03/iowa-democrats-review-what-went-wrong-2020-chart-path-to-win-2022-vilsack-governor-politics-election/6815912002/

6 replies

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Iowa Democratic heavyweights joining forces to figure out how to win elections again (Original Post) progressoid Mar 2021 OP

Good Idea leftieNanner Mar 2021 #1

And we're going to have to deal with the voter restrictions that the GOP is hellbent on passing. progressoid Mar 2021 #2

I think I remember last year in the Primaries leftieNanner Mar 2021 #3

I've been so jaded by the constant BS by republicans that I was expecting the worst from the SOS progressoid Mar 2021 #4

Every Michael Gronstal speech I heard started with Laws Milestones and Accomplishments of Democrats IA8IT Mar 2021 #5

We lost a good one when they took Mike down. progressoid Mar 2021 #6

leftieNanner

(15,689 posts)

1. Good Idea

Reply to progressoid (Original post)

Wed Mar 3, 2021, 04:29 PM

Mar 2021

If Grassley decides to retire, it would be great to have infrastructure in place to replace him with a Dem.

I was a little bit surprised that Ernst won. Silly me.

progressoid

(50,743 posts)

2. And we're going to have to deal with the voter restrictions that the GOP is hellbent on passing.

Reply to leftieNanner (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 3, 2021, 04:36 PM

Mar 2021

leftieNanner

(15,689 posts)

3. I think I remember last year in the Primaries

Reply to progressoid (Reply #2)

Wed Mar 3, 2021, 04:55 PM

Mar 2021

The Iowa SOS sent out a memo praising his department for running one of the best elections, especially considering Covid. Well! The Iowa Legislature did not like that one bit! Time to create some barriers to all that dangerous voting going on.

progressoid

(50,743 posts)

4. I've been so jaded by the constant BS by republicans that I was expecting the worst from the SOS

Reply to leftieNanner (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 3, 2021, 09:45 PM

Mar 2021

I was pleasantly surprised at his actions during the election.

IA8IT

(5,878 posts)

5. Every Michael Gronstal speech I heard started with Laws Milestones and Accomplishments of Democrats

Reply to progressoid (Original post)

Thu Mar 4, 2021, 10:04 AM

Mar 2021

Loved hearing him!! I wish I had a card in my pocket with that kind of information to share with Mr. Potato Head Iowans.

progressoid

(50,743 posts)

6. We lost a good one when they took Mike down.

Reply to IA8IT (Reply #5)

Thu Mar 4, 2021, 02:47 PM

Mar 2021

I found out recently that he and his family had to suffer through death threats and vandalism from 2007 to 2016 because of Mike's staunch support for marriage equality and women's rights.

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