(KIWA Staff Photo)Sioux Center, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Democratic candidates for the Iowa Legislature, Congress, and statewide office gathered Tuesday evening in Sioux Center to discuss campaign priorities and encourage volunteer involvement ahead of the November election.
The Northwest Iowa Dinner with Democrats, held at the Terrace View Event Center, was hosted by the Democratic parties of Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury counties. The event featured candidate speeches, county party updates, and discussion of issues including affordability, public education, health care, rural communities, and government accountability.
Opening Program and County Updates
Kim Van Es served as emcee, with Emily Espinoza performing the national anthem. Jessica Lopez-Walker delivered a land acknowledgment recognizing Native American nations connected to the region.
Representatives from each of the six host county parties outlined recent activities, including candidate visits, county fair booths, community service, membership recruitment, and voter outreach. Speakers included Renae McCarty of Lyon County, Nancy Peters of O’Brien County, Kathy Winter of Osceola County, Julie Ford of Plymouth County, Katie Crumrine of Sioux County, and Ryan Akerberg of Woodbury County.
Crumrine highlighted Sioux County Democrats’ cemetery restoration work in Orange City, volunteering at youth events, outreach to college students, and cooperation with Plymouth County Democrats on a congressional candidate forum. She also discussed younger members joining party leadership and ongoing door-to-door campaigning.
Nancy Peters credited Stephanie Steiner with helping revitalize the O’Brien County organization, while Julie Ford highlighted Plymouth County’s food pantry donations and a community survey conducted during the county fair.
Iowa House Candidates Discuss Representation and Rural Priorities
Shawn Olorundami, the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 1, opened the candidate remarks by discussing his Sioux City upbringing, teaching career, and family.
He described the district’s economic, cultural, and geographic diversity, and argued that those differences should be reflected in policies supporting schools, workers, health care, and families.
Jessica Lopez-Walker, running for Iowa House District 2, followed with remarks about her Indigenous heritage and experience as a foster parent and small business owner.
Her priorities included housing and child care affordability, workforce training, health care access, and environmental quality. She also emphasized representation and ensuring residents have a voice in decisions affecting their communities.
Stephanie Steiner, the candidate for Iowa House District 5, discussed her decision to seek a legislative seat after losing the Democratic primary for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District to Dave Dawson.
Steiner, a retired women’s health nurse and small livestock producer in rural O’Brien County, said the concerns that drew her into public life remained after the primary.
Steiner said conversations during her congressional campaign highlighted concerns about living costs, health care, public education, family farms, small businesses, clean water, and the future of rural communities.
House District 5 includes Osceola and O’Brien counties and part of Cherokee County.
Senate Candidates Emphasize Affordability and Voter Contact
Mike Frantz, the Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate District 3, discussed his career in higher education and his volunteer work responding to natural disasters.
Frantz said he had personally knocked on more than 4,000 doors and identified living costs, cancer concerns, and public education as recurring issues in conversations with voters.
State Senator Catelin Drey, seeking reelection in Senate District 1, followed by describing her path from contacting elected officials as a parent to seeking office herself.
Drey emphasized accessible representation, town halls, and direct conversations with constituents. She credited volunteers with helping her win the seat and encouraged attendees to support legislative candidates through donations and door-to-door outreach.
Congressional and Statewide Candidates Outline Their Goals
Dave Dawson, the Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, said he was nearing his goal of visiting each of the district’s 36 counties four times.
Dawson focused on household costs, health care access, and government accountability, pointing to his experience as an attorney and prosecutor.
Dawson also called for congressional term limits, stock trade restrictions for federal officials and their families, and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
State auditor candidate Taylor Wettach spoke next, emphasizing independent oversight of taxpayer money. The Muscatine attorney described his legal and financial background and said he wants to continue the watchdog role he credited Rob Sand with maintaining in the office.
Wettach criticized efforts to limit the auditor’s investigative authority, pointing to his opponent, current Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, whom he said voted to restrict the office’s powers in 2023. He also encouraged attendees to support Democratic candidates and their county party organizations.
State treasurer candidate John Norwood followed, connecting his remarks to northwest Iowa’s growth and infrastructure needs. He pointed to Sioux Center’s investment in electrical generation as an example of planning for future demand.
Norwood described a model in which communities repay infrastructure loans, allowing the money to support additional projects. He also advocated keeping more public money working through Iowa financial institutions when safety, liquidity, and competitive returns can be maintained, and pledged to protect the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System from privatization.
Muhlbauer Delivers Keynote Address
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Dave Muhlbauer, running mate to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.
Muhlbauer introduced himself as a fifth-generation farmer and Crawford County supervisor. He described his family’s agricultural operation and history of public service, along with the regular conversations he has with residents through local government.
After criticizing Republican leadership over public school funding, state finances, and conditions facing family farmers, Muhlbauer also took aim at Derek Wulf, running mate to Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn. Muhlbauer accused Wulf of voting to weaken the state auditor’s office, support the state’s education savings account program, and defund water quality monitors. He then drew on his own agricultural background to call for a change in leadership.
Muhlbauer said he and Sand would focus on strengthening the economy, protecting public schools, supporting farmers and workers, and addressing cancer rates. He also connected his experience in county government to working across party lines.
Muhlbauer urged supporters to use the remaining weeks of the campaign to knock on doors, make calls, and talk with neighbors.
Following his address, a field organizer for the Sand campaign delivered prepared remarks on behalf of Conrad Schweiger, who was unable to attend. The message encouraged supporters to volunteer for voter outreach and get-out-the-vote efforts.
Van Es closed the evening by encouraging voting and recognizing the planning committee. Organizers said money remaining after expenses would be divided among the six host county Democratic parties.
