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Declining vote share in rural #Iowa is also a big problem, but Fred Hubbell would be governor if he had matched Vilsack or Culver's performance in the mid-sized cities. For decades, many of those communities produced reliable vote margins for Ds. https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2018/11/15/mid-sized-cities-bigger-problem-for-democrats-than-rural-areas/
Statewide races aren't the main reason I keep mentioning the mid-sized cities, though. There's no path to #Iowa legislative majorities without winning back districts including cities like Muscatine (part of SD46). I just profiled that race today: #ialegis https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/11/13/iowa-senate-district-46-preview-mark-lofgren-vs-chris-brase/
Marshalltown is the population center of another #Iowa Senate district Democrats lost in 2016. Dave Degner @idigdeg is trying to win it back next year: #ialegis https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/08/27/iowa-senate-district-36-preview-jeff-edler-vs-dave-degner/
There will be a competitive #Iowa House race in Marshalltown next year, with @marksmithiowa's planned retirement: #ialegis https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/09/22/mark-smith-to-retire-setting-up-battle-for-iowa-house-district-71/
Ottumwa (Wapello County) was once a rock-solid Democratic area. Wapello was one of 5 counties to vote for JFK in 1960 and one of 4 counties to vote for Bonnie Campbell in 1994 #iagov race.
Ds didn't carry it last year and don't hold the Iowa Senate seat there. #ialegis
Ds didn't carry it last year and don't hold the Iowa Senate seat there. #ialegis
Democrats hold the #Iowa House seat including Ottumwa and should continue to do so after 2020. https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/11/09/mary-gaskill-running-again-in-iowa-house-district-81/
But that could change in future election cycles if trends in mid-sized cities don't change. #ialegis
But that could change in future election cycles if trends in mid-sized cities don't change. #ialegis
Democrat incumbents lost #Iowa Senate seat covering Fort Dodge in 2014 & Senate seats covering Burlington, Muscatine, Marshalltown in 2016.
Also lost races for open Senate seats in Clinton & Newton in 2018.
Narrowly held seat including Keokuk in 2016--Rs will target next year.
Also lost races for open Senate seats in Clinton & Newton in 2018.
Narrowly held seat including Keokuk in 2016--Rs will target next year.
I'm not saying it isn't important to improve outreach in rural #Iowa. It is. Every person's vote counts.
But path to #ialegis majorities runs through mid-sized cities. I don't have the answer but Democrats need to keep thinking about it. (end thread) https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2018/11/15/mid-sized-cities-bigger-problem-for-democrats-than-rural-areas/
But path to #ialegis majorities runs through mid-sized cities. I don't have the answer but Democrats need to keep thinking about it. (end thread) https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2018/11/15/mid-sized-cities-bigger-problem-for-democrats-than-rural-areas/
