Hi John,

This isn’t your average email from the Senate Majority Fund. I want to give you a window into what we’ve been doing at the SMF - in particular, how we mobilized to flip the Sioux City senate seat. 

I distill it down into the ingredients of a recipe: 

   - a great candidate who is known in/well connected in the community;  

   - a motivated county party and a good volunteer base;  

   - a message well-attuned to the district; 

   - media and ads that reflect the candidate’s values; and 

   - a ton of doors knocked and calls made.  

Above all, take nothing for granted. 

For a long time we’ve heard that Democrats weren’t showing up, that we’d written off parts of this state. That’s sure isn’t the case now. I’m committed to showing up everywhere – and going to truly listen, not to tell people what we think they need to hear.  

It is so necessary in this dangerously polarized time to show up and have respectful conversations – Senator Drey (who was sworn in on September 15) and our team had thousands of them. It creates community and that, in turn, builds parties and – crucially - builds hope. And it translates into votes and more conversations.  

We’re not nationalizing these races, because this is about our state and our communities and what works here. We’re focused on people. Even in our ads, that often can look and sound like cookie cutters, we worked really hard not to do that – but to use humor and just be human. 

Right after Catelin’s swearing in, media asked us about recent political violence – and what our response to that would be. First, we need leaders who turn down the temperature, because violence is never the answer. And second, we need to be everywhere, having respectful conversations with Iowans and truly listening – and exchanging ideas. That is the campaign that Catelin ran – a campaign of which we can all be proud. 

Our goal – my goal – is to keep the momentum going, in addition to being purveyors of hope. Because when we do this work, when we go everywhere and listen to Iowans, change is not just possible – it’s happening.  

Onward,

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner