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Your weekly guide to taking action in Iowa May 5-12, 2026

A weekly roundup of Iowa political events, protests, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide from May 5-12.

The US Senate is currently deciding whether to approve new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Demonstrators gather during a rally against federal immigration enforcement at Federal Courthouse Plaza on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Candidate events:

US Senate candidate Zach Wahls:

1 p.m. Saturday, Cedar Rapids

6 p.m. Saturday, Dubuque

3 p.m. Sunday (with Sen. Elizabeth Warren), Des Moines

6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, Cedar Rapids

US House District 2 candidate Lindsay James:

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Vinton

US House District 2 candidate Clint Twedt-Ball:

1 p.m. Saturday, Cedar Rapids

US House District 3 candidate Sarah Trone Garriott:

5 p.m. Tuesday, Jefferson

4:30 p.m. Saturday, Creston

Iowa Governor candidate Zach Lahn:

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cedar Rapids

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Waukee

Iowa House District 4 candidate Ashley Wolftornabane:

6 p.m. Friday, Carroll

Iowa House District 11 candidate Bill Owen:

6 p.m. Friday, Carroll

Iowa House District 99 candidate Jennifer Klever-Kirkman:

5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Burlington Public Library

Protests and rallies:

*Denotes weekly. Some weekly events may not be held every week.

📅 Tuesday (May 5)

Thanks for Nunn-thing, Rep. Nunn: 10 a.m., Des Moines

*Indivisible Protest: noon, across from the Federal Building, Cedar Rapids

Protective Accompaniment to Stop Congo Deportation: 7:30 a.m., Cedar Rapids

📅 Wednesday (May 6)

*DSM Visibility Brigade bridge protest: 4:30 p.m., Des Moines

Humpday Holler – Visibility Brigade: 5:30 a.m., Council Bluffs

📅 Thursday (May 7)

*4 Corners Peaceful Protest: 4:30 p.m., near the Casey’s/Methodist Church in Panora

*DSM Visibility Brigade bridge protest: 4:30 p.m., Des Moines,

Miller-Meeks: Stop Closing Our Hospitals: 3 p.m., Davenport

📅 Friday (May 8)

*Vigil for Immigrant Rights: noon-12:30 p.m., Waterloo Post Office

*Jefferson Protest: noon-1 p.m., Jefferson Square, Jefferson

*Veterans for Peace: noon, across from the Federal Building, Cedar Rapids

Stop Taking Our Health Care Event: 3 p.m., Iowa City

*Veterans for Peace rally: 3:30 p.m., east entrance of Pentacrest, Iowa City

*Linn County Visibility Brigade: 3:45 p.m., Emmons Street overpass, Hiawatha

📅 Saturday (May 9)

*Community Rally for Democracy: 10 a.m., NE corner of Hickman and Alice’s Road, Waukee

*Grieving for Gaza: 11 a.m., Decorah

*Rally in the Wayside Park: noon, Decorah

*Perry Protest: noon-1 p.m., First and Willis by the bicycle sculpture, Perry

*Peaceful Protest: 1 p.m., corner of Mamie Eisenhower Avenue and Story Street, Boone

📅 Sunday (May 10)

*Save Our Parks: 10 a.m., Harper’s Ferry

*Henry County First Amendment Rally: noon-1 p.m., front of the courthouse, Mount Pleasant

📅 Monday (May 11)

*Indivisible Visibility Brigade: 3:45 p.m., Cedar Falls

📅 Tuesday (May 12)

*Huddle on the Hill: 1 p.m., Des Moines

Have an event to add? Email Lily Jackson, lily@couriernewsroom.com with details (please send details at least one week before the event).

Related: Iowa legislative session ends declaring ‘mission accomplished’ on property taxes and more abortion restrictions


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Authors

  • Lily Jackson is the Community Development Organizer at the Granite Post with five years of organizing experience at the local, state, and federal levels. Prior to joining Courier Newsroom, she organized her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire with the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee for the MLK Day of Service. She continued her advocacy with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire after graduation. Lily grew up in Boston, but now calls the Granite State her home.

  • Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line’s newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

    Have a story tip? Reach Amie at amie@iowastartingline.com. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie’s newsletter.