Oregon senator fires up Iowa Democrats in Newton weekend canvas

Sunday, following a week of nonstop national media reporting on Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate hearing, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., stepped into the Jasper County Democratic headquarters on First Street in Newton.

Merkley denounced Kavanaugh for his stance on the 1973 Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision, saying, “Let’s just stand together and say the government should never get in the exam room between a doctor and a woman on difficult health decisions.”

He called the appointment of Ivy league and Oxford-educated Justice Neil Gorsuch “totally inappropriate” and punctuated the statement with the “Trumpism fail.”

At the end of his 10-minute speech, which covered topics ranging from renewable energy to the Voting Rights Act, Merkley moved to Iowa politics, describing Iowa’s privatization of Medicaid as “horrific.”

The crowd packed into the Democratic headquarters punctuated his statements with cries of “hear, hear!” and applause.

The energy is a needed boost to Jasper County Democrats, trying to regroup and re-energize after another hurdle in the party’s troubled race to hold Iowa Senate District 15. The Democrats are currently on its third candidate for the seat since August, after incumbent Chaz Allen announced he was dropping his re-election bid.

Sunday, two women, swaddled in sweaters against the rainy September chill, sat together and chatted before Merkley spoke. One attended the event to learn more about the Democratic Party. The other said she was disappointed in Iowa’s current Republican leadership. Neither disclosed their names.

Carol Kramer, a former teacher of Native American descent, pinned buttons supporting local Democratic candidates to her shirt.

“I came out because I am a dedicated Democrat because I have been so upset with the way our country has been moving, and I think we need to have these Democrats all the way up and down the ticket,” Kramer said.

Kramer is particularly concerned with the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS), which Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the state general assembly’s Republican majority have discussed changing.

“I’ve paid into that as a teacher for 35 years, and so has my husband,” she said. “It’s a very important thing that doesn’t need to be messed with, and I don’t trust Republicans.”

Merkley’s appearance in Newton was his second stop in Iowa this weekend. On Saturday, he attended the Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry with gubernatorial hopeful Fred Hubbell and his running mate, Iowa Sen. Rita Hart, D-Wheatland.

Merkley also stopped in Cedar Rapids to open a canvassing event for Molly Donahue, the Democratic nominee for Iowa House District 68, before his flight back to Washington, D.C.

These flights to Iowa are part of Merkley’s “Blue Wave Project” to garner grassroots support for Democratic candidates across the nation.

“Blue waves don’t just happen,” Merkley said, comparing electing Democratic candidates down the ballot to the battle between David and Goliath. “They happen because you build them.”

Seeing a blue wave wash over Iowa, in particular, this election cycle interests Merkley. He praised Iowa’s work on biofuel and wind energy production, citing it as an example for the rest of the country. He commended the commitment of Iowa Democrats campaigning on the promise of living wages, healthcare and education. But Merkley believes that Iowa Democrats have a lot of work ahead of them.

“The combination of the Republican governor and the House and the Senate, it doesn’t look like Iowa, the Iowa I’ve heard about all my life,” Merkley stated.

Iowa Senate District 15 hopeful Dan Nieland agreed with Merkley’s assessment of the situation.

“Down the ballot is a good way to look at it. We need it. A concerted effort is what it’s going to take to really turn things around,” Nieland said. “I love his statement about government ‘by and for the powerful instead of by and for the people.’ That’s the way of looking at things if you ask me.”

Electing as many Iowa Democrats into office this November could potentially benefit Merkley, who will likely make a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

When asked Sunday if he was planning on throwing his hat into the ring, he said, “Yeah, I am considering it, yes, yes.”

He has traveled to Iowa at least five times for canvass kickoffs like these, and with the election approaching, this trip most likely won’t be his last.

Contact Phoebe Marie Brannock at 641-792-3121 ext 6547 or pbrannock@newtondailynews.com