Caucus-goers help define 2026 election cycle

LEE COUNTY – Monday night's off-year caucuses helped define local party platforms and served as a time for Democratic and Republican advocates to gather around current priorities.
Lee County Republican Chairman James Creen said he was hoping for people to sign up as delegates Monday night at the Republican Caucus held at the Pilot Grove Community Room in Donnellson. He said that was an imperative with five gubernatorial candidates vying for the 2026 election.
There will be a contested convention if none of our five gubernatorial candidates meets the 35% vote threshold for the Republican nomination.  "That is why I am encouraging our caucus attendees to put their names forward for election as delegates to the Lee County Republican Convention.  Eleven delegates and Alternates to District and State Conventions will be elected at the Lee County Republican Convention on Saturday, March 7th," he said.
He said the party has optimism going into the next cycle.
“We are cautiously optimistic,” Creen said.
“We know that a successful 2026 General Election is far from being guaranteed.  We have work to do this election cycle to encourage Lee County's voter base to come out and support our candidates.  
Lee County Democratic Chair Mary Jo Riesberg said the mood is strong for Democrats who are hoping to capitalize on recent Democrat victories in special elections.
“Elections across the country, including in Iowa, have seen double digit swings in voter choices in districts that voted for President Trump in 2024. The nation's mood has shifted as the administration's policies have not only failed, but have created problems few people expected,” Riesberg said.
“The mood is strong. Masked and armed government agents in American streets terrorizing immigrants going through the asylum process and those with green cards. I don't think many Americans believed Native Americans and other citizens would be sent to detention. Democrats can feel the tide turn away from the Republican Party.”
Creen said the priority for Monday’s caucus was to organize the party and elect precinct representatives who will make up the Lee County Republican Central Committee

“We will also elect delegates, alternates, and junior delegates to the Lee County Republican Convention set for March 7 at 10 a.m.”
He said the group will also select planks for the county party platform.
Creen said he’s cautiously optimistic about turnout, but doubts numbers will be as strong as the 2024 caucus when more than 1,000 people attended. He said with this not being a presidential preference year numbers could be down, but the governor’s race could bring people to Donnellson.
Riesberg said identification is a priority for the Democrats.
“We want to determine how we see ourselves as the Lee County Democratic Party, a group of many under one umbrella. We are rural and urban, live throughout the county, have a range of incomes and ages as wide as the Nation, and our positions on issues are moderate to progressive,” she said.
She said platforms to be discussed include justice for all Americans, workers' rights, strong public education, replacing corruptions with accountability, and a strong social safety net.
“This includes electing local leadership, voting on platform resolutions, and recruiting volunteers,” she said.
She said name recognition is strong this year with most people knowing the candidates for state offices on the Democrat side. But she agreed that attendance will be difficult to gauge in a non-presidential rotation.
“Attendance is always difficult to predict. I never try. It is not a presidential year, but the climate of the country could increase interest. Multiple candidates can increase attendance, but it's also winter. It will be whatever it is,” she said.
District 100 State Rep. candidate Matt Mohrfeld and District 99 State Rep. candidate Jennifer Kirkman were on hand at the Fort Madison Democratic caucus at the Fort Madison Elementary school. 
State Rep. Blaine Watkins (R-100) was on hand at the Republican caucus.