DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) – Iowa Democratic Party Rita Hart, re-elected to another term this month, said that her party will focus on economic issues and hold Republican leaders accountable if they don’t improve the life of residents.
Hart is a farmer from Wheatland, retired teacher, former state senator, 2018 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, and 2020 2nd Congressional District nominee (who lost by six votes to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
As party chair, Hart faces numerous challenges as Democrats prepare for the 2026 elections:
Both U.S. senators are Republicans. The seat of one of them, Joni Ernst, will be on the ballot in 2026.
All four U.S. representatives are Republicans. All four seats are on the ballot in 2026.
Democrats hold only one of the statewide offices (Rob Sand as state auditor). Positions of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, secretary of agriculture, and attorney general are all on the ballot in 2026.
Republicans hold 67 of the 100 house seats in the Iowa Legislature. All 100 seats are on the ballot in 2026.
Republicans hold 34 of the 50 senate seats in the legislature (There is a special election on January 28th for Chris Cournoyer’s former seat (senate district 35) that she vacated to become lieutenant governor). Twenty-five of the senate seats will be on the ballot in 2026.
Hart thinks that national figures in Democratic politics can overshadow what candidates in Iowa are stressing sometimes.
Holding the number of casinos in Iowa, putting your phone down when you drive in the state, and announcing another mass layoff headline the top political stories of the week.
About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.
Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.
He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.
Dave welcomes your thoughts on what answers to seek from politicians and what issues challenge our communities.
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