Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus

Template:TOCnestleft Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus heavily overlaps with Democratic Socialists of America.

Beginnings

Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee voted to recommend the creation of a new Progressive Caucus at the state convention on June 18, 2016.

The idea for such a committee isn’t new – it’s been debated within the party over the years, but disagreements over what it would stand for kept it from becoming a reality. And at this weekend’s meeting the discussion reportedly didn’t fall solely along Clinton/Sanders lines, with several central committee members who backed Hillary Clinton bringing the motion forward and speaking in favor of it. The main argument in its favor was that it would provide a welcoming home for new, left-leaning Democrats to enter the party structure.

This progressive group already exists in a way online, in the form of a Facebook group started by Jason Frerichs, the chair of the Montgomery County Democrats. There members discuss progressive policies they’d like to see enacted in the state party’s platform and debate which candidates to support in the upcoming primaries. The conversations are considerably more productive than what you see on other Facebook sites.

“The idea is to push more of those progressive ideas forward,” explained Holly Herbert, a newly-elected central committee member from the 3rd District who supported Sanders. “The group is open to everybody. There’s folks who support Sanders, there’s folks who support Clinton, and there’s some who don’t necessarily like either.”

“Part of the reason I joined the group was I was interested to see what people were talking about locally,” she added. “I feel like so much of this has been focused on the presidential race, and I think it’s more important to focus on local politics.”

Others had reservations over what the organization would stand for. John McCormally, who was re-elected to another term on the central committee, was unsure going into the meeting, but ended up voting in favor of the caucus’ creation.

These would add to the caucus committees the party already has: the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus, Black Caucus, Disability Caucus, Latino Caucus, Native American Caucus, Stonewall Democrats Caucus and Veterans’ Caucus. Each caucus receives a vote on the state central committee.

Bill Brauch said Chair – IDP Third District Central Committee

The motion at SCC to recommend the formation of a Progressive Caucus was mine, and I supported all the new caucuses. The idea, indeed, is to give folks a “home” within the Party. Senator Sanders has energized a lot of new folks, as has Secretary Clinton. I’m a Clinton backer, and love having all our new folks! Iowa Democrats would join other great state Democratic parties by forming a Progressive Caucus, including our neighbors to the north – the Minnesota DFL Party. There is no down side to being more welcoming.

New officers

New Officers of the Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus elected May 2017;

• District 1 Chair: Ruth Walker
• District1 Vice Chair: Open
• District 2 Chair: Ryan Rogers
• District 2 Vice Chair: Eva McBride
• District 3 Chair: Holly Herbert
• District 3 Vice Chair: Abshir Omar
• District 4 Chair: Amanda Malaski
• District 4 Vice Chair: Brian Josephson

Progressive Caucus Beer Summit

Progressive Caucus Beer Summit Public · Hosted by Iowa Democratic Party Progressive Caucus

Saturday, August 26 at 8 PM - 2 AM CDT

Royal Mile, 210 4th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.

The Progressive Caucus is hosting a call-in forum to the candidates for the IDP Chair race. Anyone who wishes to ask a question is welcome to call in.

Invited on Facebook

• Emily Silliman
• Michael Adato
• Bernard Clayton
• Michael McKinley
• Catherine Crist
• Matt Chapman
• Laura Belin-BHeartland
• Chris Laursen
• Steven Lucas
• Stephen Nein
• Sherry Washington
• Nicholas Dreeszen
• Madalyn Anderson
• Yana Reid
• Tim M. Nelson
• Liz Bennett
• Rob Hogg
• Kevin Shilling
• Brian MacLaine
• Bill Brauch
• Tim Ennis
• Shellie Smith
• Andrew Dunn
• Pat Heidke
• Conrad Douglas
• Kris Dixon

David Grussing Reyma McCoy McDeid Melanie Carlson Yeshe Tsomo Liliana San Elias Jordan Pope Donnie J. Holliday Kate Jett Molly Donahue Jill Popham Rick Smith Clare Fish Paige Brown-Orr Heather Pearson Phouthasack Keopraseuth Emma Schmit Russ Parkhurst Tisha Dumkrieger Mary Driscoll Jurenka Gabriel De la Cerda Heaven Chamberlain Abshir Omar Evan Burger Colleen Caldwell Floyd J. Gardner Marian Kuper Ken Sagar Joe Morrissey Polly Gibson Denison Vince Geraci Jessica Smith Randy Porch Brian James Bowman Kristen Lynch Gary Kroeger Chris Adcock Lynn Adams Nancy Frerichs Dole Elizabeth Hartling Hoenig Deborah Bunka Jack Gunnar Schuler Shannon McGuire Rebecca Ingham Brenda Brink Ruth Burgess Thompson Terry K. Philips James K. Jordan Courtney Rowe John McCormally Elissa Green Kate Halter Bob Babcock Austin Wadle Barb Smith Pfeiffer Julie VanDyke Jeremy Rosen Joey Norris Angela Hagerty Nadia Ali Jaime Allen Sam Muhr Elizabeth Dinschel Javier Miranda Ro Foege Jeff Rohrick Aaron Schoeneman Madeline Cano Clint Brown Mark James Arnold Brenda Phongsavanh Michael Gass Theresa Greenfield Julia Peterson Sally Peck Tracy Murphy Chris Petersen Brent Christopher Oleson James Marren Em Thylacine Justin Jurn Frerichs Merlin Pfannkuch Kurt Michael Friese April Richards Burch Bill Ekhardt Jenny Lassen Boeye Jodi Clemens Adam Wright Marcos Rubinstein Alexanderance Stroda Cindy Clark Hudson Claire Celsi Joe Henry Jon R. Klein Jon Neiderbach Emily Emme Christian Ucles Joe Stutler Nick Fisch JJ Jacobs Laura Tumak Hickey Heather Ryan Tracy Leone Clara Oleson PJ Bails

• Vanessa Carolina Marcano-Kelly
• Pete D'Alessandro
• Michael Worrell
• MacKenzie Ewing
• Jill Applegate
• Jenny J. Arnold
• Josh Schulte
• Michael Moore
• Mary Horsman
• Julie McQuisten
• Jan Bauer
• Sheryl Drees Heidecker
• Jonathan Green
• Rachel Lunsford
• Maridith Morris
• Melinda Padley Jones
• Travis Glynn
• Kate Larson
• Lauren Whitehead
• Kate Revaux
• Nora Taft

Interested

• Karen Black
• Brian Josephson
• Scott Roland
• Todd Prieb
• Al Womble
• Alex Anderson
• Cade Olmstead
• Amanda Malaski
• Jeff Timmins
• Nick Kruse
• Jordan Lukehart
• Monica McCarthy
• Jack Reardon
• Mark Mitera
• Sandy Dockendorff
• Jesica Butler

Mike Kern Angela Weiland Wes Clemens Rosemary Kirlin Sarah Eastman Sherry Kiskunas Phoebe Kates Tamyra Wissmiller Harrison David Kelso Lindsey Nichole Jessica Fears Jennifer Horner Christopher Robin Morse Eva Halloran McBride Shelly Servadio Daniel Graham Clark Phyllis Arlene Holland Elizabeth Leas Jackie Steiber Cordon Simeon Talley Holly Herbert Andrea J. Phillips

• Nathan J. Gruber
• Laura L. Hubka
• Naomi Peachy Clark
• Mandie Sanders
• Blair Lawton
• Tyler Granger
• Parker Thresa
• Sarah Hinds
• Danielle Benford

Went

• June Owens
• Robert Krause
• Stephanie Maguire
• Glenn Hurst
• Crystal Defatte
• Marcia Fulton
• Ryan Rogers
• Annaleah Moore
• Kim Weaver
• Scott Galindez
• Shanda Carstens
• Ingrid Olson
• Penny Rosfjord
• Gi Koenig
• Jason Frerichs
• Peggy Huppert
• Blake McGhghy
• Dylan P. Funk
• Erin Madsen
• Jennifer Winn
• Prakash Kopparapu
• Mike Carberry
• Mason Fraker
• Tracy Freese

References

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