Waterloo, Iowa — Democrat Ras Smith kicked off his campaign for governor with an online video Tuesday morning and an in-person rally in his hometown of Waterloo Tuesday night.
Smith’s mother, the pastor at the Faith Temple American Baptist Church in Waterloo, started the rally with an invocation.
A CeeLo Green song with gospel undertones played as Smith walked on stage.
And Smith began his speech with a story about an Easter Sunday experience.
Smith, who is 33, has served in the Iowa House since 2017, and is seeking to be the first black Iowan to be elected to statewide office. Smith says the state’s civil rights heritage can be its path forward.
Smith is the first Democrat to officially enter his party’s race to challenge Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ bid for reelection in 2022. Smith criticized her signature on a bill that bans teaching that the United States is systemically racist or sexist.
A statement from the Republican Governors Association accused Smith of being a tax and spend liberal and described Reynolds as a battle-tested leader.
