2026 IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM
(adopted 6/13/2026)
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
Iowa Democrats passionately embrace the ideals set forth in 1787 in the Preamble to the United States Constitution, embedding in it the wisdom to construct a democratic republic which would “form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”.
Democrats know the purpose of government is to act on behalf of the public good, to create and execute policies and laws that promote and protect everyone’s human rights equally, to protect our shared environment, to promote justice, safety and security and to oversee the equitable distribution of resources, affording all citizens the opportunity to attain their highest level of social, cultural, economic, mental, and physical well-being.
We believe a robust, fully funded, and inclusive public education system is a vital investment. We must teach the sometimes inglorious, uncomfortable history of our nation in order to know the past, understand the present, and prepare coming generations to create a better future. We must provide accessible, high-quality education at all levels. To maintain Iowa’s high standards, our educational systems must remain innovative, accountable, and fully funded.
We regard healthcare, employment, and education as fundamental human rights. All Iowans have a stake in local, national, and global efforts to provide for these needs. We believe foreign policy should be guided by diplomacy, the promotion of international human rights, and a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution through global cooperation. We shall comply with international treaties and agreements and ensure that our international relations uphold our civil rights values.
Our nation continues to face many challenges to those founding ideals and progress toward “forming a more perfect union”, among which are sexism, ageism, homo/transphobia, deadly-loose gun laws, environmental degradation, fossil fuel dependence, voter suppression, gerrymandering, theft of Supreme Court positions, unequal application of justice, cojoining religion and government, regressive taxation, culture wars, using religion to promote white supremist nationalism, deceptive propaganda, excessive money in politics, insufficient and burdensome access to health care, unbridled corporate greed, and denial of racism and racist history.
Our young and idealistic democracy, both on the national level and here in Iowa, has been a testament to the advancement of the ideals bequeathed to us in our founding.
We are proud of the Democratic Party’s contributions to our nation’s heritage, accomplishments, diversity, and movement toward a “more perfect union”. We devote ourselves to the preservation and advancement of diversity, sustainability, opportunity, and all manner of equality. We embrace our rights and sacred duty to continue the work of national improvement begun two centuries ago.
We support: a representative government that is compassionate, progressive, and responsible. We call for the restoration of meaningful checks and balances between the three branches of government to rebuild public confidence. To this end, we fully support the comprehensive implementation and funding of the priorities listed in the Democratic Platform.
