Rita Hart reelected to lead Iowa Democrats in 2025

Iowa Democrats voted to reelect Rita Hart to lead the party for another four years.

On Saturday, the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee elected its new chair, Rita Hart of Clinton, by what one voter called a “landslide.” She received 78 percent of the vote.

The leadership election is obligatory within 90 days of a general election, per the party’s constitution.

2025 starts Hart’s second consecutive term as chair of the Iowa Democrats—a first for someone in this role in over a decade. The party saw yet another crushing loss in November when Democrats lost seats in the legislature and failed to pick up any congressional seats.

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 eight 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.

Following the vote, Iowa Democrats released a statement from Hart thanking the committee.

“The 2024 election did not go how I nor any Democrat in Iowa wanted, but the IDP is stronger than it was two years ago,” Hart said. “I am looking forward to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve put in place during the last two years so Democrats in Iowa can win.”

Three other people ran against Hart for chair: former central committee member Tim Henry Winter, who received 10 votes; Progressive Caucus vice chair Alexandra Nickolas-Dermody, who received 1 vote; and the chair of the 3rd congressional district Democrats and West Des Moines Democrats Kim Callahan, who received no votes.

The other leaders the party elected were vice chair Gregory Christensen, secretary Paula Martinez, and treasurer Samantha Groark.