Over the weekend, Iowa Democrats will convene to vote on a team to lead after bummer 2024.
The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee will meet in Ankeny Saturday morning to choose its new officers to represent the IDP in 2025.
The State Central Committee is a 53-member board. The majority are elected at district conventions as part of the caucus process. It also includes the chairs of several state committees and constituency caucuses, as well as Iowa’s members of the Democratic National Convention.
As part of the state party’s constitution, the central committee has to meet within 90 days of a general election to elect its chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
To be eligible, a nominee does not need to be a member of the State Central Committee, but they must be eligible members of the Iowa Democratic Party.
Current chair Rita Hart of Clinton emailed the committee saying she planned to run for reelection. In a 19-page plan, she outlined her work to pull the party out of debt and to develop its staffing resources, all in service of converting institutional stability into getting Democrats elected. Her vision for future campaigns aims to take $1 million to fund an organizing director and 8 field organizers to focus on building the capacity of county parties. The plan is to build that capacity now to seek early investment ahead of a competitive 2026 race.
Bleeding Heartland has published letters from several other candidates that have told the State Central Committee about their intention to run against Hart. They include Progressive Caucus vice chair Alexandra Nickolas-Dermody and former central committee member Tim Henry Winter.
Update
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Iowans and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Iowa Starting Line has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Iowan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
How to vote on Election Day in Iowa
It's Election Day, and you have done literally nothing to prepare for this. Don't worry: You can still vote! Here's how. Iowa’s general election is...
Millennial Iowan: ‘With Trump, I only see dictatorship’
Not everyone can have their ideal candidate for president, especially about 100 days out from the election. But Colleen Hunkele, a millennial Iowan,...
This Gen-Z Iowan is voting to save lives from gun violence
Ingrid Alg-Liening is voting because she has watched her family, friends, classmates, and many Americans fall victim to gun violence throughout her...
More than memes: Gen Z Iowa voter says she’s ‘ready to see change’
Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris assumed the role of Democratic nominee for president, one Gen Z Iowa voter says she feels more hope than...
Voting 101: I’m a college student not living at home. How do I vote in Iowa?
Q. I’m going to college in another city/state this fall. Can I still vote in Iowa? A. Yes, you can! You just need to be 18 years old by the time of...
How to vote in Iowa: A complete voter guide
Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned vet, voting can still be confusing—but we’ve broken down all you need to know about how to vote in...