Summary by Gina Dahlstrom:

The cap-stone event for the Passport to Victory series sponsored by the first District Democrats was held on October 20 th in Elkader, Iowa. This event included members from
Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties and provided those attendees with an opportunity to hear and be heard by several 2020 presidential candidates, current
representatives and candidates running for Senate and House seats.
Abby Finkenauer attended the event and 5 candidates challenging Senator Joni Ernst: Vice Admiral- Michael Franklin (ret), Child advocate and attorney; Kimberly Graham, Realtor;
Theresa Greenfield, teacher and Coach Eddie Mauro and businessman Cal Woods.
Senator Michael Bennet spoke on his concerns about the childhood poverty and the sad
state of public education in this country. He said that the climate crisis cannot be solved 2
years at a time, it needs to be a multi-generational shift to renewable solutions, real
accountability and civility. In summation, he said he would strive to “Make America; America
again.”
Marianne Williamson spoke about making humanitarian ideals our guiding principles. One
issue she things needs changed is that our public education system should not be tied to
property taxes. That system only reinforces economic inequality. She also feels that the
recent 360 billion in arms sales to the Saudis so they can continue their inhumane war on
Yemen is abhorrent. “But, it is not enough to say what we are against; but what we are for.”
Tom Steyer attended the event and lamented that our economy has failed all but the 2% at
the top. His father, a career Naval officer, instilled in him a moral compass that said that if
you see something wrong; stand up to it. So, with his wealth he felt compelled to stand up for
those whose voice has been silenced. He emphatically stated he feels healthcare is a human
right, and the recent tax cut for the wealthy was an attack on Americans. The trade war has
been a failure, but it is not the American people that have failed, we just currently have a
government that is failing them.
Representative Tulsi Gabbard began her time with explaining to us what “Aloha” really
means in Hawaii. “I come to you with respect” is a truer interpretation and what she would
promote as President. She quoted Martin Luther King in his visit to her state “… that multi-
cultural Hawaii has achieved a harmony that should be a template for the rest of the nation.”
She said that caring for one another is firmly rooted in what is meant to be American and that
in her opinion is the definition of Patriotism. This include protecting people, country and our
planet and making sure that the corporate bottom line isn’t being enhanced at our expense.

Representative Ro Khanna came to speak on behalf of Senator Bernie Sanders. First and
foremost, He feels Iowa can lead the way in creating good paying clean energy jobs. Free
public education from pre-school to public college will lift us all out of poverty, especially the
many children who live in poverty and food insecurity. Healthcare is a human right and
Medicare should be extended to all including dental, vision and long term care. He feels that
we need to take the excess money out of the Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries. They
make obscene wealth while offering fewer services. He lamented that the trade wars are
hitting smaller farmers and is well aware that the “subsidies” sent to help are not getting to
those farmers.
John Delaney served 3 terms in the Maryland House of Representatives and has won many
entrepreneurial awards for enterprises he has founded. One of those was HCFP; a loan
provider to small healthcare facilities being ignored by large banks. He also co-founded Capital
Source which primarily invested in low income and economically distressed communities. He
had introduced legislation to end partisan gerrymandering and feels he can bring civility and
bipartisan cooperation back to our divided country. Delaney favors a Universal Healthcare
system, he supports a corporate tax rate increase from 21% to 23% to pay for infrastructure
improvements and he supports equality related legislation.
Mayor Pete Buttigeig was not at this Passport to Victory event but did attend the portion
held in Waterloo. He believe that we need to stop thinking that American values belong to
only “One side”. He is convinced that this moment will decide how the next 30-40 years will
unfold and that we, if anything, are under-reacting. It is up to us to vote for freedom to have
healthcare coverage, join a union if you choose, have control over your reproductive rights,
freedom to have access to good public education and be able exercise your freedom of
speech, including over who you marry. Money in the political system has to be curtailed, right
now those with the money are suppressing the American will. Mayor Pete has proposed a
“Call to Service” program that would provide paying jobs and a labor force to solve
infrastructure and other challenges that would benefit. National security; including election
security, curtailing terrorism-domestic and otherwise and tackling the challenges of Climate
disruptions are also priorities in his campaign.
In conclusion, being the “First in the Nation” comes with its burdens. Sometimes it seems
the election cycle never ends! But, take a moment to consider that we are privileged to get
the opportunity to see and often personally speak to these candidates prior to the caucus. We
should take that privilege seriously as our civic duty to be informed and engaged. I encourage
all to participate in the Caucus process; which in Guttenberg will be held at the Municipal
Building on the evening of February 3 rd , 2020.