Des Moines West Side Democrats

08/23/2026

Find candidate information and campaign websites for races up and down the ballot at VotePolk.com.

08/15/2026

Important Dates for the 2026 General Election!

08/15/2026

Join Ryan Peterman at the State Fair Soapbox tomorrow at 4:30, hope to see you out there!

Heading to the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 15? Here's your guide to livestock competitions, concerts and more.

08/13/2026

Iowa State Fair Soapbox schedule!

2026 Soapbox Schedule! 👇

Our awesome Democratic candidates are at the Fair! Come out and support them as they take the Iowa State Fair Political Soapbox. The Soapbox is located on the front lawn of the Horner Service Center, with a small, seated area available.

Friday, August 14
11:00 AM — Josh Turek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
12:00 PM — Sarah Trone Garriott, Democratic candidate for U.S. House, Third District

Saturday, August 15
10:30 AM — John Norwood, Democratic candidate for Treasurer
11:00 AM — Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for Governor
4:30 PM — Ryan Peterman, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State

Thursday, August 20
3:00 PM — Lindsay James, Democratic candidate for U.S. House, Second District

Friday, August 21
1:30 PM — Nate Willems, Democratic candidate for Attorney General

Saturday, August 22
12:00 PM — Taylor Wettach, Democratic candidate for State Auditor
3:00 PM — Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for Secretary of Agriculture

Additional candidates are scheduled to speak throughout the Fair. Check out the Des Moines Register article linked in the comments below for more information.

08/09/2026

We are filled with gratitude after an amazing evening of music and connection. So many people came together to make this event possible! 🎶

Thank you to Beggars’ Bargain, Matt Terronez Music, Ducharme-Jones and everyone who joined us for “Be The Change. Vote The Change.” These are just a few photos of the music, the candidates, and the community that came together at Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers. 🍀🐴🍻🍔

We so appreciate our partners Northwest Des Moines Democrats for collaborating in planning and organizing. The funds raised will make it possible for our Neighbor-to-Neighbor programs to reach so many this fall. Thank you for your contributions! 🏡🏡🏡

Thank you to Josh Turek, Sarah Trone Garriott, State Representative Austin Baeth, Janet Petersen, Ryan Peterman for Iowa, Kimberly Graham for Polk County Attorney, and John Forbes for Polk County Supervisor for joining us on Saturday! We left inspired by their positive messages for a better Iowa. 💙

Mark your calendars: we look forward to seeing you at the Greenwood Lounge on Sunday, October 11th for another “Be the Change. Vote The Change” event! 🗓️

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

What a great night! Thanks to everyone who joined us. 💙

We raised almost $7,000 in small donations for swing district candidates in just an hour in Des Moines tonight.

Just goes to prove the theory that they can do a much better job delivering their messages than anyone else can do it for them.

Thanks to Molly Buck For Ankeny, Brett Mohler for Iowa, Matt Mohrfeld for Iowa's Future, and Mandy for Iowa for joining me, State Representative Austin Baeth, Joe Judge, and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge tonight.

And thanks to the Des Moines West Side Democrats and the Polk County Democrats for hosting us!

08/02/2026

Please join us on Wednesday, August 5, 5:30-7pm at the Willow on Grand!

Common Sense Candidates for Our Statehouse

You’re inundated with requests for donations. And, if you’re like me, you try to help as many as you can. But the national races, the federal races, and even the statewide races can have limited impact on common sense statehouse representation that seems to be slipping away a little bit more every two years. While we all chip in to the big campaigns that generate tens of millions of dollars, it can be easy to forget about the more local ones where even a few hundred dollars for doorknocking materials can help decide whether a candidate wins or loses.

For the first time, I’m joining with my House Democratic colleagues, the Polk County Democrats and the Des Moines West Side Democrats to bring those candidates directly to you.

Please join us on Wednesday night (August 5) from 5:30 to 7:00 PM for our first Majority Meetup to Flip the Iowa House at the Willow on Grand (6011 Grand Avenue). We’ll be welcoming House candidates Molly Buck For Ankeny, Brett Mohler for Iowa (Albia, Bloomfield, Centerville), Matt Mohrfeld for Iowa's Future (Fort Madison, Keokuk), and Mandy for Iowa (Grimes and Urbandale) for brief remarks about themselves and their campaigns along with questions from the audience. Joining me to introduce them will be my friends State Representative Austin Baeth, Joe Judge, and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge.

Suggested admission is $40 with $10 going directly to each of the four campaigns. You can donate more if you’d like. You can purchase your admission at the link in the comments or pay at the door. By popular demand, the program and refreshments will both be light to keep attention focused on the candidates and resources targeted to their campaigns. Even if you can’t make it, please consider sending along a donation in any amount at the link below.

If this event is successful, our hope is to replicate the event with candidates from around the state, additional House Democratic legislators, and neighborhood groups around Central Iowa.

We can’t wait to see you soon.

-Sean

07/30/2026

New announcement from Polk County Democrats that Rep. Jamie Raskin will headline the 2026 Polk County Steak Fry on Saturday, August 29 at the Des Moines Biergarten in Water Works Park!

We're thrilled to announce that Rep. Jamie Raskin will headline the 2026 Polk County Steak Fry on Saturday, August 29 at the Des Moines Biergarten in Water Works Park!

Representing Maryland's 8th Congressional District since 2017, Rep. Raskin is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. A constitutional law professor for 25 years before coming to Congress, he has become one of the nation's leading voices in defending democracy, the rule of law, and the U.S. Constitution.

Rep. Raskin served as the lead impeachment manager during President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial and was a member of the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Polk County Democratic Party Chair Bill Brauch called Rep. Raskin "the constitutional conscience of Congress."

"In many ways, Jamie Raskin is the chief advocate for the Constitution in Congress. As a constitutional law professor, Raskin is Congress' most knowledgeable member regarding the U.S. Constitution. We are honored to welcome him to Iowa and to the Polk County Steak Fry."

As we prepare for one of the most important election years in Iowa's history, we're honored to bring Democrats from across Iowa together for an afternoon of great speakers, great food, and hope.

Get your tickets today: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2026steakfry

Host a booth at our Steak Fry:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2026steakfry

We'll see you, Saturday, August 29 at Water Works Park!