Deidre DeJear is the Best Democratic Governor Candidate in Iowa in a Generation

She could build a movement

Deidre DeJear is the best Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Iowa since Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Say it out loud, and think about it. If you do, you will conclude that she is the best candidate in a generation, and as such, just might gain the support of every Democrat, Independent, and any Republican who is second guessing their party’s dedicated and carefully orchestrated march toward a White “Christian” Nationalist theocracy. If you don’t believe this is happening wake up and look around.

Can you think of another Democratic candidate since Tom Vilsack who was better? Vilsack was Governor from 1999-2007. When he decided to not seek a third term, Democrat Chet Culver rode Vilsack’s coat tails to victory, serving until 2011. Culver defeated Republican Jim Nussle by ten percentage points. In 2010, Culver was thumped by former Governor Republican Terry Branstad by about the same margin. The 20-point swing suggests Iowans weren’t impressed. 

Neither was I, and not only for what he did and didn’t do in office. As far as I know, Culver came to Marion County just twice during his term in office. Once he gave a speech in Pella and headed for the door before the press could get to him. And it’s not like it's a long trip. As Sarah Palin might say, here in Marion County, some of us can see Polk County from our front porches. 

The second time he was here, the week before the 2010 election, he gave me a few minutes, but his staff scolded me for taking too much of his time. 

To be fair, his Lt. Governor, Patty Judge, was here often.

In 2014, Iowa Democrats nominated millionaire land developer Jack Hatch from Des Moines. I’ve seen Hatch almost fall asleep during his own stump speeches; that’s how interesting he was.

Hey, that worked out so well that in 2018, Democrats nominated another millionaire from Des Moines, Fred Hubbell. Fred, God bless him, was as interesting as Jack Hatch’s stump. Speech. 

All of these candidates, with the possible exception of Culver, share one thing. They are extremely knowledgeable about policy, and would have implemented good ones.

But policy isn’t enough.

When Vilsack served, one could debate policy with Republicans and win elections. Not anymore. Now it’s all about ideology, and values. It’s also about team building. 

Former Republican Governor Terry Branstad is also a stiff, but he knows how to build a team. Young Republicans with potential are recognized, resourced, trained, and supported. It’s a political machine. That’s Branstad’s legacy, a formidible political juggernaut where everyone, from the outside anyway, appears to be on the same team.

Where is the Democratic machine, lifting candidates, getting behind them, resourcing and supporting them? What’s Vilsack’s legacy? After Culver collapsed, a void. Tell me I’m wrong. 

In this void great young Democrats emerge--like DeJear, who are under-supported, under-resourced, and second guessed. 

In February, Brianne Pfannenstiel for the Register wrote a piece where she shared that Democrats and consultants in powerful positions told her they were wondering if DeJear’s campaign could be successful, especially because of fundraising issues. That was real smart wasn’t it? Democrats sharing with one of the best political reporters in the state that they questioned the viability of one of their candidates? Would Terry Branstad or Kim Reynolds do that? Absolutely not. It’s discipline and leadership. And that’s what team members do. 

Where is the Democratic team, including the monied elite, behind DeJear? And behind every other great and under-resourced candidate at every level in the party?

In response to Pfannenstiel, I challenged the party for their lack of support for DeJear, saying that if Republicans win, they’ve earned it. 

Then, and now, members of the monied and powerful Democratic elite are running around like Chicken Little crying “the sky is falling! the sky is falling,” when the the sky isn’t falling, they are pulling it down. 

I’m sure Republicans are laughing their asses off.

Todd Dorman, writing for The Gazette on Sunday, excoriated the Democratic donor class for their lack of support for DeJear. Read it. It sizzles. 

DeJear is dynamic, knows policy, and her values are Iowa values. She’s remarkable on the stump--and her speech is never the same. She’s a leader who has spent much of her professional career elevating others.

DeJear is 17 points down in the most recent Des Moines Register Iowa poll. 

To that, Dorman says, “Yes, the polls look bad. But no election is over in July. At this point in 1998, Tom Vilsack trailed Jim Ross Lightfoot by 21 points. And yes, I clearly understand Iowa politics has changed dramatically and we’ve taken a sharp right turn. But there’s still plenty of time to make it a race. The fight isn’t over.”

There is one more thing Deidre offers Iowa Democrats that none of the other previous candidates for Governor had, including Vilsack. She has the potential to build not only a team, but a movement.

In DeJear, Iowa Democrats have found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They just have to open their eyes.