In a message to the Iowa Democratic Party’s governing body, State Auditor Rob Sand has urged support for Rita Hart’s re-election as state chair for another two-year term. Sand highlighted Hart’s leadership in getting the party out of debt, establishing a full-time staff in communications, finance, and data, and improving the party’s organizational structure.
He addressed criticisms about the party’s performance and the decision to send fewer absentee ballot request forms, attributing this change to GOP-backed legal adjustments that made absentee voting riskier. Instead, he endorsed alternative voter outreach strategies as a wiser use of resources.
Sand also pointed out that, in comparison to national trends, Iowa’s political landscape shifted favorably for Democrats in 2024. While Iowa saw a stronger swing toward the GOP in 2022, it showed a smaller shift in 2024, outperforming the national trend by about one percentage point. This, he argued, demonstrated positive change under Hart’s leadership.
He concluded by asking the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee members to unite behind Hart’s leadership and her “Forward Victory: 2026” plan. Sand emphasized the benefits of maintaining continuity in the party’s leadership, citing that a longer tenure for the chair would foster continued progress.
The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee will meet on January 4 to elect a new chair, with three candidates expected: Hart, Tim Winter, and Alexandra Nickolas-Dermody.