'We've got to stay engaged': Democrats host annual steak fry fundraiser
Polk County Democrats said they are working to energize the Iowa Democratic voters at their annual steak fry fundraiser on Saturday at Water Works Park.
At the event, party leaders, November candidates and activists took the stage to share their views on hot topics like LGBTQ+ issues, reproductive rights and education policies in the state. Politicians and voters both said the main purpose of this year's lunch was to gather people with similar views and motivate them to start fighting for Republican-held seats, starting at the local level.
"It's really important to support the Democratic party on off years, so when it's not a presidential year, when it's not a house or senate race, when it's these local elections that are, as we all know, so important to our day to day lives," Democrat Emily Webb said.
No presidential candidates attended the fundraiser. The event keynote speaker was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He talked about policies being enacted in Minnesota that he said should be enacted in Iowa.
"My goal is to come down here and say, 'You don't have to live like this, you can vote for folks that actually want to get things done,'" Walz said.