Brian McLain is a co-chair of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Platform Committee and former chair of the party’s Progressive Caucus.
Every two years, hundreds of Iowa Democratic Party members come together to determine the direction they want the Party to go. It is a long process requiring hours of meetings, debate, and discussion that eventually culminates in a single document, offering a picture of where the base stands on the issues at the time. It is truly one of the most democratic processes that one can take part in and a testament to what can be achieved in a party whose members don’t always see eye to eye with each other.
Typically this document is available on the Iowa Democratic Party website after the bi-annual convention. However, for some unknown reason the 2026 platform has not been published yet. So in honor of the hard work that the Platform Committee has put into this document, we are taking it upon ourselves to bring the platform to you through this medium.
Unlike the Republican Party’s platform, there is an incredible amount of nuance in the Iowa Democratic Platform, which comes from its members’ lived experiences. That can make the platform difficult to comprehend and intimidating. For that reason, some have called for shortening or eliminating the document. But doing so would take away one of the key communicative tools the base has with the rest of the party, and it would take power away from those who should have the loudest voice in the Democratic Party as a whole: The People.
It is with this in mind that I present the 2026 Iowa Democratic Party Platform
Agriculture, Energy, and the Environment
Productive Living Through a Healthy Food Supply, Promoting Clean Air, Water, Diverse
Ecosystems, Parks, Oceans, Forests, and Enhancing National Security
Agriculture
Ensuring Responsible Stewardship of Our Rural Land
We support:
1. An Equitable Farm Bill.
2. Domestic/small-scale ownership of land.
3. Diversification of agriculture.
4. Requiring and funding NRS practices.
5. Hemp.
6. Labeling GMO seeds.
7. Reducing crop insurance caps.
8. Legal protection from pesticide and GMO drift.
We oppose:
8. “Ag-Gag” bill.
9. Cancer Gag Act.
10. Seed Patents.
Agricultural Development
We support:
11.Sustainable/regenerative/diverse/climate-smart agriculture.
12.Implementing RUSLE3 with data access.
13.Fully funding REAP/IWILL/Leopold Center/NRORTF/LWLT/NMP.
14.Incentives for food production.
15.Reducing and sequestering GHG emissions.
16.Increasing the fertilizer tax.
17.Requiring sustainable farming practices to qualify for farm subsidies.
18.Market-indexing USDA loan rates.
19.Strengthening the public’s right-to-know for permits/TRI chemical use.
20.2010 FFPR.
21.Marketing Iowa’s agricultural commodities worldwide.
22.Farmer Cooperatives.
23.Programs/Incentives enabling new/underrepresented farmers.
We oppose:
24.Private equity receiving farm subsidies.
25.Foreign investment/ownership in agriculture.
26.US food aid commodity dumping.
Livestock Management
We support:
27.Strengthening/Enforcing animal welfare laws, including minimum space
requirements.
28.Requiring NMPs.
29.Reducing antibiotic/hormone use.
30.Strict, enforceable regulations of CAFOs.
Antitrust
We support:
31.Strengthening and strict enforcement of antitrust laws.
32.Fair livestock market access.
We oppose:
33.Land consolidation.
34.Large-scale vertical integration.
Planning and Zoning
We support:
35.Responsible land use and development policies, which include
a. Walking and biking infrastructure
a. Public transit
a. Urban growth boundaries
a. “Smart growth” planning.
36.Preserving Iowa’s farmland, natural areas, and community character. 36.Ensuring the workers who build Iowa’s future share in its prosperity through:
a. Project Labor Agreements
b. Prevailing wage requirements
c. Union labor utilization requirements.
37.Tribal Sovereignty. 36.Native landscaping.
38.Investments in WMAs.
39.Strengthening landowner involvement in water control.
40.Incentivizing LEED requirements.
We oppose:
41.Light Pollution.
42.Development in floodplains.
43.Involuntary annexation.
44.Eminent Domain for corporate/private use/benefit.
45.Development/exploitation of public parkland.
46.Development that exploits Iowa’s land, undermines its communities, and cuts
corners on environmental and worker protections to pad corporate bottom lines.
47.Unrestricted urban sprawl.
Food Supply and Safety
We support:
48.Stricter enforcement of food safety regulations.
49.Irradiation/antibiotic/hormone/GMO/COO labelling.
50.Small-scale meat processing operations.
51.Addressing food waste/deserts.
52.Increasing food assistance funding/benefits, including COLA.
53.Creating a single food safety agency. 51.Local and community food systems.
Energy
Transitioning Away From Carbon-Emitting Energy Sources
We support:
54.Energy independence.
55.The Green New Deal.
56.Renewable energy subsidies.
57.Reinstating the CPP. 58.Fossil fuel conversion to renewable energy. 58.75% de-carbonized energy by 2035.
58.A cap on carbon emissions.
59.A revenue-neutral price on carbon.
60.Worker retention tax credits supporting displaced energy workers.
61.Diverse renewable energy R&D.
62.Funding R&D of nuclear energy. 59.Dedicated funding to university-based energy R&D programs.
We oppose:
63.Direct fossil fuel subsidies.
64.Energy commodity speculation.
Limiting Drilling/Extraction
We support:
65.Safe transport/storage/tracking of radioactive/biologically hazardous material.
We oppose:
66.Deep water and Arctic drilling.
67.Fracking.
Modernizing Our Grid Infrastructure
We support:
68.IUC regulations of community and individual/cooperative-owned renewable
energy. 75.IRPs/FIT/expanded net-metering.
69.Smart grid/microgrid improvement with BES.
70.Energy conservation.
71.Standardized renewable energy permitting reform.
72.Environmental/economic/health impact assessments pre-data center
construction/expansion.
73.Data centers paying the full cost of utilities/infrastructure.
74.Nuclear power
75. A moratorium on new AI data centers and crypto mining facilities.
Maximizing Transportation Efficiency
We support:
76.Higher CAFE standards.
77.Incentivizing EV purchases, including tax credits.
78.The NEVI Program funding with EVITP workforce requirements.
79.EV mass transit.
80.Reconsidering the benefits/detriments of biofuel production.
We oppose:
81.Inappropriate RFS waivers.
Environment
Stewardship And Livability – Placing Our Children’s Future Above Corporate Profits
We support:
82.Policies that treat Iowa’s air, land, water, and natural environment as the shared
inheritance of all Iowans, protecting them from pollution, degradation, and
corporate exploitation.
83.A constitutional right to a healthy environment.
84.Rejoining the Paris Climate Accords.
We oppose:
85.The exploitation of Iowa’s air, land, water, and natural environment for private
gain at public expense.
Clean Water Availability For All
We support:
86.Policies that hold polluters accountable, restore Iowa’s waterways, and guarantee every Iowan, rural or urban, access to clean, affordable water.
87. We support R&D with universities, water and land quality specialists.
Acronyms Used in This Section
BES – Battery Energy Storage
CAFO – Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
CAFE-Corporate Automotive Fuel Economy
COO – Country of Origin
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
CPP-Clean Power Plan
EV – Electric Vehicle
EVITP – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program
FFPR – Farmer Fair Practice Rules
FIT – Feed-in Tariff
GHG – Greenhouse Gases
GMO – Genetically Modified Organisms
IWILL – Iowa Water and Land Legacy
IUC – Iowa Utilities Commission
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
IRP – Integrated Resource Plan
LWLT – Land and Water Legacy Trust
NEVI – National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
NMP – Nutrient Management Plan
NRORTF – Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund
NRS – Nutrient Reduction Strategy
R&D – Research and Development
REAP – Resource Enhancement and Protection
RFS – Renewable Fuel Standard
RUSLE3 – Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version Three
TRI – Toxic Release Inventory
USDA – United States Department of Agriculture
WMA – Water Management Authority
Economy, Commerce, and Labor
Workers’ Rights and Collective Bargaining
We support:
88.The PRO Act.
89.Workers’ Freedom to Negotiate Act.
90.Full restoration of Chapter 20 collective bargaining rights for all public
employees, including the right to strike/negotiate on all working conditions.
91.Whistleblower protection.
92.Mandatory paid breaks.
93.Predictive scheduling/fair workweek laws.
We oppose:
94. Right-to-work laws.
95. Mandatory binding mediation/arbitration/class-actions waivers, NDAs.
Comprehensive Workplace Safety
We support:
96. The right of workers to choose their own medical providers for workplace
injuries.
97. The right to refuse unsafe work without retaliation.
98. Increased staffing/funding for OSHA/MSHA/NIOSH.
99. Expanded union participation and oversight in safety inspections and accident
investigations.
Fair Compensation and Pay Equity
We support:
100. A living wage for all workers, indexed to the MIT living wage calculator.
101. Eliminating the sub-minimum wage for tipped/incarcerated workers.
102. Enforcing the Paycheck Fairness Act.
103. Penalizing wage/benefits/retirement theft.
104. Improving COLA formulas.
105. Federal elected-officials’ benefits parity with government-employees.
We oppose:
106. Extreme executive-to-worker pay disparities.
107. Shareholder supremacy.
Economic Security and Family Support
We support:
108 Non-punitive, paid family/medical/parental leave for all workers.
109. Expansion of unemployment insurance to 26 weeks.
110. UBI.
111. Access to universal/publicly-funded childcare.
112. Lowering retirement age with full Social-Security payout.
113. Transitioning weapons industries toward civilian-use manufacturing.
115. Homestead exemptions.
116. Charitable deductions.
117. Increasing/expanding EITC.
118. Gender equalization of Social-Security benefits/appropriate equitable
reparations.
119. Foreclosure protections.
120. Creating a STPO.
Corporate Accountability and Consumer Protections
We support:
121. Consumers’ right to sue.
122. Strengthening/expanding/enforcing antitrust laws.
123. Reinstating Glass-Steagall.
124. Strong/independent CFPB/BCP.
125. Lowering interest rate caps on consumer loans, including credit cards.
126. Corporate fines exceeding profit gains.
127. AI regulation.
128. Definancialization.
129. Stronger FDA oversight/funding.
130. Genetic patent reforms.
131. Strengthening product safety standards/enforcement.
132. GDPR-level privacy protections.
133. VCFCA.
134. Regulating private equity firms with the same transparency/oversight standards as publicly traded companies.
135. Permanent Digital Millennium Copyright Act exceptions allowing unrestricted distributional modification of abandoned media.
136. Protecting intellectual property from use for AI training.
We oppose:
137. Predatory lending.
138. Hidden/excessive fees.
139. Legal immunity for developers/implementors/users of AI.
Progressive Taxation and Fiscal Reform
We support:
140. A tax system placing the majority tax burden on extremely high earners.
141. Wealth taxes.
142. Elimination of the Social Security taxable wage cap.
143. Increasing IRS responsiveness.
144. TEA.
145. Capping residential property-taxes for low-income citizens.
146. Taxing all stock-exchange transactions.
147. Separating Social-Security-Trust-Fund from federal budget.
We oppose:
148. Off-shore tax-havens/corporate-inversions/loopholes.
149. Carried interest loophole.
150. Taxing unemployment/worker-compensation/disability/Social-Security
benefits.
Sustainable Infrastructure and Digital Rights
We support:
151. Funding for:
a. Independent public broadcasting
b. Universal high-speed broadband
c. Mass transit/high-speed rail
d. Green New Deal framework.
152. Net neutrality and online privacy.
153. Right-to-repair laws.
154. Retraining programs for workers affected by:
a. AI
b. Automation
c. Environmental reform.
We oppose:
155. Repealing section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Small Business and Local Economy
We support:
156. Near-zero-interest loans for local small businesses.
157. Main Street America.
158. “Made in USA” policies requiring a minimum of 90% U.S.-manufactured content, including U.S. Military Supplies.
159. GIVFAP.
160. Earmarking lottery/gambling taxes for public-educational/medical funding.
Fiscal Responsibility
We support:
163. Responsible federal budgeting by:
a. Implementing fair tax reform
b. Conducting rigorous reviews of spending priorities.
Cannabis Reform
We support:
164. Legalizing/regulating/taxing cannabis products similarly to alcohol.
Immigration & Labor
We support:
165. Humane/efficient immigration processing to ensure a stable/legal workforce.
Targeted Tax Relief
We support:
166. Providing essential tax credits to low-income
individuals/veterans/seniors/PWD.
Worker Protections
We support:
167. Prioritizing employees as first-in-line creditors during corporate
liquidations/bankruptcies.
Privatization of Public Assets
We oppose:
168. Privatization of:
a. Social Security
a. Medicare
a. Medicaid
a. Public Lands
a. IPERS
a. Essential public infrastructure.
Unfair Labor Practices
We support:
169. Strengthening child labor laws.
We oppose:
170. Union-busting.
171. Wage theft.
172. Misclassification of employees as independent contractors.
173. Strikebreaking.
174. Mandatory overtime.
175. Limiting/ending of overtime pay.
Inequitable Economic Policies
We oppose:
177. “Trickle-down” economics.
178. Regressive/flat taxes.
179. Corporate welfare.
180. Use of credit scores/social media/incarceration history in employment decisions.
181. Treating investment earnings differently from earned income.
182. Implementing the “Kansas Experiment.”
Market Exploitation
We support:
183. Limiting TIF.
184. Banning commercialized prediction markets.
We oppose:
185. Stock buybacks.
186. Price discrimination.
187. Rent gouging.
188. Financial speculation.
189. Ghost jobs.
190. Subsidies/tax breaks for data-centers/fossil-fuel-companies.
Acronyms Used in This Section
AI – Artificial Intelligence
BCP – Bureau of Consumer Protection
CFPB – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment/Allowance
EITC – Earned Income Tax Credit
FDA – Food and Drug Administration
GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation
GIVFAP – Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program
IPERS – Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System
IRS – Internal revenue service
MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (referring to the Living Wage Calculator)
MSHA – Mine Safety and Health Administration
NDA – Non-Disclosure Agreement
NIOSH – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PRO Act – Protecting the Right to Organize Act
PWD – Persons with Disabilities
STPO – State Tenant Protection Office
TEA – Taxpayer Empowerment Agenda
TIF – Tax Increment Financing
UBI – Universal Basic Income
VCFCA – Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act
Education
We support:
191. Public funds for public education only.
192. Prioritizing student-centered education.
193. Giving local control to school districts.
194. Increasing equitable funding for
public-schools/AEAs/community-colleges/public-universities.
195. Maintaining/funding the US and Iowa Department of Education.
196. An equitable-method for funding public-schools.
197. SSA of no-less-than 8% within the first 30-days of the legislative calendar. 190. Funding on-site ESPs, including but-not-limited to:
a. Librarians
b. Paraprofessionals/associates
c. Nurses
d. Licensed mental-health providers
e. Media-Specialists
f. School-counselors
g. Social-workers
h. STOTPT.
198. Full, sustainable funding for programs addressing:
a. MH/MI
b. Poverty
c. Support/integration of ELL/ESL students
d. Career/vocational education
e. STEAM
f. Civics
g. SEL
h. Personal financial-literacy
i. Special-education/twice-exceptional
j. TAG
k. At-risk dropout-prevention
l. Reduction in student/teacher ratios
m. NEA/NEH/NSF
n. Safe, adequate facilities
o. Fine Arts
p. IDEACT
q. Wrap-around Services
r. Literacy
s. LFS
t. ILO
u. TRiO
v. Before/After school programs
w. Summer programs
x. Public radio/television.
199. Evidence-based teaching standards.
200. De-emphasizing standardized tests.
201. Appropriate use of technology to support the process of
physiological/neurological/psychological/social development.
202. Media-literacy education that emphasizes critical-thinking, including the
impacts of social-media.
203. Fully-funded, universal, free, high-quality full-day early childhood programs.
204. Tuition-free vocational-programs/state-universities/community-colleges with
reduction in other fees.
205. Student-loan forgiveness.
206. Bankruptcy/predatory-loan protections for student-borrowers.
207. Equitable funding based on student need.
208Requiring oversight of private-schools identical to public-schools especially if
they receive public funding.
209. Comprehensive education including access to the
arts/music/physical-education/CTE/foreign-language/STEAM/work-based
learning, and other programs at all grade-levels.
210. Medically-accurate/evidence-based/age-appropriate
sex-education/gender-education/family-planning, including LGBTQIA+/nonbinary,
in all public-schools.
211. Evidence-based/peer-reviewed/all-inclusive approach to teaching
human-diversity, science, and Indigenous/US/world history without government
interference.
212. Adopting universal mental-health policies/procedures/educational-standards
for PreK-14.
213. Middle/high-school health-curriculums, including information about consent
and dating violence.
214. Erin’s Law.
215. Protecting in-person/digital privacy of all students/families/school staff &
administration.
216. Free nutritious breakfast/lunch/snack for all students, including special-diets,
food-backpack and summer-food programs.
217. The Sanctuary School and Safe Zone Movement.
218. Eliminating racial-disparities in discipline-policies and educational-outcomes.
219. Non-discriminatory curricula/dress-code, including but-not-limited-to
hair-discrimination/traditional-dress.
220. Trained IDEA/de-escalation/mediation/trauma-informed professionals in
schools to help end the school-to-prison pipeline.
221. Professional conflict resolution facilitators in schools.
222. Attracting/retaining educators from underrepresented populations.
223. A safe/inclusive environment and intervention-strategies protecting students
from bullying/harassment/bias/retaliation.
224. DVDP.
225. Transgender/intersex children’s right to utilize names, restrooms/locker-rooms, and sports-teams/activities matching their gender-identities.
226. Allowing LGBTQIA+ supportive organizations.
227. Protections from discriminatory actions against BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/PWD
individuals.
228 All-encompassing and inclusive curricula/learning experiences for all
students, especially BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/PWD individuals.
229 Equal access to education/language-rich environments for PreK-14
Blind/Low-vision/Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students to optimize language
development.
230. Funding/training for early identification/intervention of special-needs, motional/hostile/violent behavior.
231. IDEA-offices/programming/curriculum/affinity-group scholarships in higher-education.
232. The ISEA’s Educator Bill of Rights.
233. Educators’/ESPs’ right-to-strike and engage in collective-bargaining on all working conditions.
234. Academic freedom in higher-education.
235. Tying university medical-research to academic freedom.
236. All public PreK-14/higher-education, non-administrative, salaries/benefits/pensions above national-average.
237. A competitive living-wage/benefits for ESPs.
238. Unemployment benefits for ESPs who experience seasonal layoffs.
239. A path to tenure for all university faculty, including part-time.
240. Strengthening/ensuring IPERS benefits.
241. Reduction of class size and special-education rosters.
242. Ratio of child-to-staff caps in-line with AAP/NAEYC.
243. Learning disability screening in PreK-14 schools/IJJS.
244. Diversity/equity/implicit bias training for all staff yearly. 190. Restoring full-services/local-control to AEAs.
245. Access/funds/financial-aid for incarcerated/formerly-incarcerated people for
accredited ABE/higher-education, including Pell Grants.
246. Fully-funded public libraries/museums with independent boards.
247. Investment in accessible/affordable/quality childcare and childcare-workers.
248. Stronger regulation/oversight of restraints.
249. Prohibiting private, charter, and voucher-funded schools that receive public
dollars from dismissing/suspending/expelling students with individualized education
programs.
We oppose:
250. School-sanctioned religious practice/bias/clergy in public-schools.
251. Changes to accreditation regulations based on political/religious ideology.
252. Unfunded mandates.
253. Generative Artificial-Intelligence.
254. The Solomon Amendment.
255. Lowering licensing requirements for teachers/administrators.
256. Merit pay.
257. Guns on school-grounds including employees/SROs.
258. SROs being stationed inside schools.
259. Criminalizing educators for teaching equitable topics.
260. Censorship in our schools including banning books/literary resources.
261. Parental notification that outs students who identify as LGBTQIA+.
262. Seclusion rooms.
263. Sanctioning/endorsing any group/club recognized by the SPLC as a hate
group.
264. Government micromanagement of public-universities and the Board-of-Regents.
265. Manipulating Board-of-Regents political-party balance.
266. Iowa legislators being on the Board-of-Regents.
Acronyms Used in This Section
AAP – American Academy of Pediatrics
ABE- Adult Basic Education
AEA – Area Education Agencies
BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
CTE – Career Technical Education
DVDP – District Voluntary Diversity Plans
ELL – English Language Learners
ESL – English as a Second Language
ESP – Educational Support Professionals
IDEA – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
IDEACT – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IJJS – Iowa Juvenile Justice System
ILO – Iowa Learning Online
IPERS – Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System
ISEA – Iowa State Education Association
LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual/Agender, and other sexual orientations and gender identities (+)
LFS – Local Foods for Schools
MH/MI – Mental Health/Mental Illness
NAEYC – National Association for the Education of Young Children
NEA – National Endowment for the Arts
NEH – National Endowment for the Humanities
NSF – National Science Foundation
PWD – Persons with Disabilities
SEL – Social and Emotional Learning
SPLC – Southern Poverty Law Center
SRO – School Resource Officer
SSA – State Supplemental Aid
STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math
STOTPT – Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapy
TAG – Talented and Gifted
TRiO – The Federal TRiO Programs are the primary federal student outreach and
student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from
disadvantaged backgrounds.
Government and Law
Civil and Human Rights
We support
267. The UDHR/relevant treaties/standards as a basis for human-rights.
268. Funding local civil rights agencies/enforcement-authority. 267. The Bill of Rights.
269. CRAs.
270. ERA.
271. IDEA.
272. Affirmative action.
273. Indigenous sovereignty.
274. JMMIW.
275. Right-to-privacy.
We oppose
276. Crimes against humanity, including:
a. Murder
b. Extermination
c. Genocide
d. Enslavement
e. Forced transfer of populations
f. Inhumane imprisonment
g. Torture
h. Sexual violence
i. Persecution
j. Apartheid
k. other inhumane acts/abuses.
277. Discrimination.
278. Child marriage.
279. White supremacy.
LGBTQIA+ Equality and Gender Identity Protections
We support
280. Iowa Code reinstating gender/sexual-identity protections.
281. Marriage/parental rights.
282. Inclusive identification/facilities/public-participation.
283. Gender-affirming care.
284. Accountability for denial of gender-affirming care.
We oppose
285. Conversion therapy.
286. Anti-LGBTQIA+ policies/laws.
287. Gay/trans panic defenses.
Religious Freedoms and Secular Government
We support
288. Freedom of religion.
289. Separation of church/state.
We oppose
290. Christian/religious nationalism.
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Law Enforcement and Courts
We support:
291. Establishing CRBs with subpoena power to investigate police misconduct.
292. Professional de-escalation/use-of-force/bias/disability/mental-health response
training/units.
293. Mandatory police body/dash-cams.
294. The right to record police-public interactions.
295. Independent review of SA/DV/abuse claims against law-enforcement.
296. Reforming civil/criminal asset-forfeiture.
297. Funding/expanding drug/mental/family/diversion courts.
298. Equitable pre-trial detention.
299. State/federal compensation for acquitted defendants.
300. Prosecuting malfeasance/white-collar crimes.
301. Expeditious rape-kit processing.
We oppose:
302. Police militarization.
303. Racial profiling.
304. State/local law-enforcement cooperating with ICE/DHS/CBP.
305. Cash-bail.
306. Disproportionate policing of poor/minority communities.
307. ALPRs/mass-surveillance systems.
Sentencing, Drugs, & Specific Crimes
We support:
308. Decriminalizing Schedule-III drugs.
309. Expungement of cannabis convictions.
310. Eliminating racial/economic disparities in the justice-system.
311. A national SA/DV/abuse database.
We oppose:
313. Statutes of limitations for SA/DV/abuse.
Corrections, Reentry, & Rehabilitation
We support:
314. Restorative justice.
315. Expanding community-based corrections.
316. Compliance with the “Nelson Mandela Rules.”
317. Equal/fair compensation for prison-labor.
318. Adequately staffing prisons.
319. Comprehensive healthcare/addiction treatment.
320. Expanding prison education/wraparound/post-release programs.
321. “Ban-the-Box” laws.
We oppose:
322. Capital punishment.
323. Mandatory minimums.
324. Three-strike laws.
325. Life sentences without possibility of parole.
326. Mass incarceration.
327. Privatized prisons/jails/parole-services.
328. Solitary confinement.
329. The “Duly Convicted Clause.”
330. Housing minors in adult populations.
331. Charging for court-appointed attorneys/incarceration/vital-sundries/communication.
Gun Safety
We support:
332. Banning assault-style rifles/high-capacity magazines/automatic weapon kits.
333. BCE/FERPO Acts.
334. Gun violence prevention programs.
335. Requiring recurring firearms-education/competency-testing/ liability-insurance/ safe-storage/ reporting lost/stolen weaponry.
336. Establishing firearm-free zones.
We oppose:
337. “Stand-Your-Ground”/”Castle-Doctrine.”
338. Open Carry
Elections and Political Processes
Campaign and Elections
We support
339. Universal automatic/same-day voter-registration.
340. Accessible ballots.
341. Permanent absentee-ballot applications.
342. The statutory right-to-vote for all citizens, including those currently/previously
incarcerated.
343. Congressional voting representation for DC/US territories.
344. Restoring the VRA.
345. Standardized/locally controlled elections.
346. Guaranteed time to vote.
347. 40-day early/absentee voting-period.
348. Independent/non-partisan redistricting.
349. Increased diversity of elected-representatives.
350. Campaign finance reform.
351. Only publicly-funded elections.
352. Timely disclosure of election contributions.
353. NPVIC Commitment.
354. Abolishing the Electoral-College.
355. Multi-party elections.
356. MMPR.
357. IRV/RCV.
358. The Equal-Time/Fairness Doctrine.
359. Funding independent fact-checking political advertisements.
360. Adequate election staffing/worker protections.
361. Eliminating sex/gender identification markers.
362. Banning third-party voter challenges/voter-vigilantism.
363. Criminal/civil remedies for voter intimidation.
364. Voter-verified paper audit-trail.
365. Mandatory post-marking/counting of mail-ballots.
366. Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation status.
367. Strengthening peaceful-transfer processes.
368. Ballot initiatives.
369. The Corporate charter reform to implement the Montana/Iowa Plan by 2030.
We oppose
370. Voter suppression/intimidation/restrictions/testing.
371. The SAVE Act.
372. Signature/photo identification matching.
373. Purging of voter-ID rolls.
374. Jungle Primaries.
375. Gerrymandering.
376. “Bad-faith” electors.
377. “Citizens United v. FEC.”
378. Corporate/dark money influence/spending in elections.
379. Weapons or ICE/CBP/law enforcement near voting/registration locations.
380. Non-independent state/federal personnel as poll watchers.
Party Involvement
We support
381. Forming an education/participation task-force in the Democratic Party.
382. Complete fiscal transparency throughout the IDP.
383. Eliminating endorsements/financial support by the DNC/DCCC/DSCC for primaries.
384. Transparency/accuracy in reporting caucus counts.
385. Reforming the current Precinct Caucuses.
We oppose
386. Superdelegates.
387. Interference in primaries.
388. MLK day caucusing.
Emergency Management
We support:
389. FEMA reform including efficient/timely/transparent fund distribution.
390. Federally funding local governments’ disaster tax loss.
391. HHS oversight of structural rehabilitation.
392. Disaster recovery/buyout assistance.
393. Expansion of Iowa’s EAPs.
We oppose:
394. Redirecting FEMA funds to non-FEMA DHS operations.
395. Partisan withholding of FEMA funds.
395. SBA loans as FEMA disqualifier for personal contents.
Government Services
We support
396. Public services/SOEs.
397. Equitable access to government services.
398. Full appropriation of government-mandated programs.
399. Publicly-funded, local, independent news/paper. 396. Independent state bank.
400. Public accountability for essential services.
401. Expanded public service opportunities.
We oppose
402. Politicized/privatized public services/infrastructure/utilities.
403. Austerity.
Government Structure and Processes
We support
404. Ethical governance.
405. Science/data-driven policy.
406. Competitive multi-party democracy.
407. Filibuster ban.
408. Unicameral Congress.
409. Supremacy of Congress.
410. Expanding the House of Representatives.
411. An Economic Bill of Rights.
412. Reducing the national debt.
413. Congressional ethics reform/enforcement.
414. Increased scope/enforcement/restrictions on insider-trading/stock/ securities/ betting/ lobbying for all government officials/immediate-family/employees/lobbyists.
415. Independent/non-partisan SCOTUS/DOJ/Judiciary.
416. Expansion of SCOTUS.
417. Merit-based/non-partisan selection of judges/justices.
418. SCOTUS reform.
419. Enforcing the Emoluments Clause.
420. Reduction of presidential powers.
421. Pardon reform.
422. Congress/SCOTUS/POTUS term/age limits.
423. Initiative/Referendum voting processes.
424. DC Statehood.
425. Local home-rule protections.
426. All government/legal documentation written in clear/understandable language.
427. Election of independent IUC-members, county auditors/recorders/treasurers.
428. Restoration of state auditor powers.
429. Recall of state/local officeholders by petition.
430. IEC multi-state legal action.
431. Personal financial accountability for lawbreaking by elected officials.
432. Balanced genders on public boards/commissions.
We oppose
433. Concentration of executive power. 434. Political interference in the justice system.
434. Misuse of presidential pardon/clemency powers including self/ preemptive pardons.
435. Nepotism.
436. Former/current officials/employees/domestic-partners as corporate/ corporate-affiliated lobbyists.
437. Legislatorial exemption from law.
438. Congressional riders.
439. DOGE Cuts.
440. A new constitutional convention.
Transparency
We support
441. Sunshine laws.
442. Independent auditing of government-agencies.
443. Whistleblower protections.
444. Unsealing of Epstein-related materials/prosecution of perpetrators.
445. Restoration of State Auditor powers.
We oppose
446. No-bid contracts.
Military and Veterans
We support
447. Living wages/fully-funded benefits for servicemembers/veterans/families.
448. Expanded healthcare/mental-healthcare/housing/education.
450. PACT Act.
451. Improved VA accountability.
452. Equitable benefits: Guard/Reserve families/veterans.
453. Strengthening reintegration programs.
454. Equity/nondiscrimination for LGBTQIA+ servicemembers/veterans.
455. Veterans’ employment protections.
456. Programs for Veteran-owned businesses.
457. Accountability for all POW/MIA/KIA.
We oppose
458. Privatizing the VA.
459. Cutting benefits.
460. Deportation of veterans.
461. Conscription.
462. Mercenaries.
463. Domestic military deployment.
464. Distributing military-combat equipment to non-military entities.
465. Renaming facilities after Confederates.
Technology and Communications
We support:
466. Publicly-owned, universal broadband.
467. Free online access to public documents.
468. Strengthened cybersecurity.
469. SKG.
470. Tech/social-media consumer protections.
We oppose
471. Generative AI.
472. Online censorship.
473. Robocalls.
474. Media/tech monopolies and consolidations, including but not limited to the
Paramount/WB and Nexstar/Tegna mergers.
475. Excessive commercial data-collection.
476. Warrantless data-collection.
477. Internet ID Age-Verification.
Transportation and Infrastructure
We support:
478. Widespread public transportation access/services.
479. Expanding HSR/passenger/freight train services.
480. Infrastructure repair/construction/safety/sustainability investment.
481. Green/Blue New Deals.
482. Public ownership of utilities.
483. Electrifying public/private transportation.
484. Expanding rural transportation options.
485. Emission reduction policies.
486. Universal driver’s license access.
487. Nationalizing Amtrak.
488. Wildlife crossings.
489. Postal banking by the USPS.
490. Free public transportation.
Acronyms Used in This Section
AI – Artificial Intelligence
ALPR – Automated License Plate Readers
Ban the Box – Require employees to remove conviction and arrest history questions
from job applications and delay background checks until after a conditional offer has
been made.
BCE Act – Background Check Expansion Act
Castle Doctrine – A common law principle where there is no duty to retreat before using
lethal force if you are in your home or yard
CBP – Customs and Border Patrol
CRAs – Civil Rights Acts
CRB – Community Review Board
DHS – Department of Homeland Security
IDEA – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency
DNC – Democratic National Convention
DCCC – Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
DSCC – Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
DoJ – Department of Justice
Duly Convicted Clause – Refers to the punishment exemption in the 13th amendment to
the US Constitution, stating “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States.”
DV – Domestic Violence
EAP – Emergency Assistance Program
ERA – Equal Rights Amendment
FEC – Federal Elections Commission
FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
FERPO Act – Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order
HHS – Health and Human Services
HSR – High-Speed Rail
ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICERD – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
ICRMW – International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of Their Families
ICCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICESCR – International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
IDP – Iowa Democratic Party
IEC – Iowa Executive Council
IRV – Instant-Runoff Voting
IUC – Iowa Utilities Commission
JMMIW – Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
KIA – Killed in Action
LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual/Agender, and other sexual orientations and gender identities (+)
MIA – Missing in Action
MLK – Martin Luther King Jr. MMPR – Multi-Member Proportional Representation
Nelson Mandela Rules – The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners
NPVIC – National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
PACT Act – Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act
POTUS – President of the United States
POW – Prisoner of War
RCV – Ranked-Choice Voting
SA – Sexual Assault
SAVE Act – Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act
SBA – Small Business Administration
Schedule-III Drug – Substances with a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I or II
and have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US.
SCOTUS – Supreme Court of the United States
SKG – Stop Killing Games
SOE – State-Owned Enterprises
Three-Strike Laws – Statues that mandate significantly increased prison sentences –
often life in prison – for individuals convicted of a third felony. USPS – United States Postal Service
UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights
VA – Department of Veterans Affairs
VRA – Voting Rights Act
Health and Human Services
General
We support:
491. Healthcare/housing/food/safety/dignity as fundamental human rights.
492. Government-funded/comprehensive/universal/single-payer healthcare.
General Health
We support:
493. Medical/Bodily Autonomy.
494. Immunization/vaccination.
495. Medical cannabis.
496. Telehealth.
497. Scientific/evidence-based medicine.
498. Preventative healthcare.
499. Public smoking/vaping bans, including casinos.
500. Organ donation designation “opt-out.”
501. Death with Dignity.
502. Green funerals.
503. Expanding rural healthcare.
504. Addressing healthcare workforce shortages.
505. State EHRs.
506. Research for cancer/chronic-disease/stem-cells/ medical-cannabis/ psychedelic-therapies/substance-abuse/Alzheimers/dementia.
507. De-stigmatizing disability/mental health.
We oppose:
508. Denial/reduction of medical services due to religious/personal bias.
509. AI in place of licensed medical professionals.
Health Insurance, Reimbursement, and Coverage
We support:
510. Guaranteed Hearing/vision/dental/LTC/substance-abuse/mental health
coverage.
511. Regulation/transparency in healthcare pricing.
512. Measures to decrease drug prices, including but-not-limited to:
a. Negotiation/regulation
b. Removing non-safety-related import restrictions
c. Capping prescription medication to the global average price
d. Generic drugs
e. Banning evergreening practices.
513. Capping surgery/procedure costs.
514. Publicly-financed/full insurance reimbursement for:
a. Couples/family therapy
b. Care for those with limited capacity to care for themselves
c. Reproductive/postpartum healthcare.
We oppose:
515. Privatizing Medicaid/Medicare.
516. For-profit healthcare.
517. Prescription drug advertisements.
518. Pharmaceutical kickbacks to healthcare professionals.
519. Work requirements for Medicaid.
520. Price-gouging.
Mental Health and Addiction
We support:
521. Comprehensive first-responder training.
522. Expanding community MHCs.
523. Crisis response programs.
524. Increasing psychiatric beds.
525. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
526. Trauma-informed care.
526. In-state mental health services for children, including behavioral health.
527. Mental health parity.
528. Recognition/treatment of addiction as a healthcare issue.
528. Substance-use disorder treatment/prevention.
529. Safe access to sterile needles.
530. Portugal-style drug decriminalization.
531. Free anti-overdose medications.
532. Targeted services for people with ACEs.
We oppose:
533. Closing MHIs/MHCs.
Human Services
We support:
534. Non-prescriptive SNAP/WIC.
535. Affordable healthy foods.
536. Shelter/restrooms/food/mailboxes for people experiencing homelessness.
537. Clinics providing accessible mental health/addiction services in underserved
areas.
538. Addressing social worker/mental health practitioner shortages.
539. Shift limits/patient ratios following best practices.
540. First-responder education/training on abuse.
541. Acknowledging gun injuries/deaths/suicides are public health/safety
challenges.
542. Home/community-based services.
543. Increasing LTC/childcare facility inspections.
544. Meaningful penalties for violating laws/regulations protecting patients.
545. Consumer representation on HHS review boards.
546. Expanding respite care funding/programming.
We oppose:
547. Human Trafficking.
548. Cutting medical research funding.
Aging and Disabilities
We support:
549. Better publicization of accessibility services/eligibility requirements.
550. Increased staffing requirement for LTC facilities.
551. Increased ADA compliance.
552. Livable reimbursement for caregivers.
553. Training/support for caregivers/family.
554. Work Without Worry Act
Children and Families
We support:
555. Universal childcare.
556. Safe foster/adoptive systems.
557. Protections from and education about all forms of abuse.
558. Shelters/resources for children/youth/families/domestic violence survivors.
559. Family preservation/permanency planning programs.
560. A living wage for licensed childcare providers.
561. Gender neutrality in custodial matters.
562. Modernizing enforcement of child support payments.
563. Clergy as mandatory reporters.
564. Raising income eligibility levels for child assistance programs.
565. Kinship-care/foster-care parity.
We oppose:
566. Religion-based adoption exemptions.
567. Private, Second-Chance adoptions.
LGBTQIA+
We support:
568. Gender-affirmation in care.
569. Classifying “withholding gender-affirming care from children” as child abuse.
570. Repealing legislation restricting/criminalizing transgender healthcare.
571. Placing transgender foster youth with affirming placements.
We oppose:
572. Sex assignment of intersex individuals at birth.
573. Prohibiting LGBTQIA+ from donating blood/tissue/organs.
574. Conversion therapy.
Reproductive Rights and Family Planning
We support:
575. Codifying Roe vs. Wade.
576. Reproductive justice.
577. Access to contraception/birth-control, including by mail.
578. Infertility services.
579. Planned Parenthood.
580. STI prevention/treatment/PrEP.
581. Comprehensive/age-appropriate/medically accurate sex education.
582. Increased financial support for adoptive/birth-parents/surrogate/foster-parents.
583. Requiring accessibility to dedicated spaces for lactation.
584. Expanding insurance coverage/legal protections for Certified Nurse
Midwives/doulas/traditional birth-workers.
585. Initiatives supporting Black/Indigenous maternal health.
We oppose:
586. Laws restricting/criminalizing abortion/reproductive healthcare.
587. Reproductive health mis/disinformation.
588. Forced sterilization/castration/genital mutilation, including default
circumcision.
589. Coercive/misleading family-planning/pregnancy/abortion services.
590. Prosecuting healthcare providers for administering medically necessary
treatment.
Acronyms Used in This Section
ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
AI – Artificial Intelligence
EHR – Electronic Health Registry
Evergreening – strategy pharmaceutical companies use to extend the lifetime of patents
about to expire to retain revenue from them
Green Funeral – funeral/burial processes that minimize environmental impacts
HHS – Health and Human Services
LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual/Agender, and other sexual orientations and gender identities (+)
LTC – Long term care
MHC – Mental Health Center
MHI – Mental Health Institution
Portugal-style drug decriminalization – provided safe injection sites, rehabilitation, and
other treatments as primary methods of addressing drug use while decriminalizing the
use itself (maintaining criminal charges for production & sale), leading to some of lowest
overdose rates in EU and dramatic decline in HIV diagnoses
PrEP – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medicine that prevents people from getting HIV
SNAP/WIC – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / Women, Infants, and
Children
STI – Sexually Transmitted Infection
International Affairs
We support
591. Laws/treaties/policies prioritizing diplomacy, human-rights, peaceful conflict
resolution.
592. All nations’/peoples’ territorial integrity/self-determination.
593. Self-determination for all US territories & protectorates.
594. Indigenous nations’/land/sacred sites, tribal sovereignty. 594. Ending genocide/religious/ethnic cleansing.
595. Ending human trafficking, protecting survivors, prosecuting perpetrators.
596. Ensuring free/fair/transparent democratic elections & peaceful transfer of
power.
597. Humanitarian aid/relief for global crises & disasters.
598. Defending equality of rights and political empowerment worldwide.
599. Comprehensive reproductive health care/family planning programs.
600. Ukraine’s sovereignty & fair peace negotiations.
601. Normalizing Venezuela/Cuba/Iran relations.
602. Humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan/Iraq/Syria/Yemen/Ukraine.
603. Reform/expansion of UN Security Council membership.
604. Significant reduction of military spending with funds used for healthcare,
infrastructure, environmental protections, & other civilian needs.
605. Closing “black sites,” ending extrajudicial detainment.
606. Ending U.S. imperialism.
607. Universal enforcement of the Leahy Law.
608. Closure of all US prisons in foreign nations including Guantanamo Naval Base.
609. We support reparations for those harmed by US occupation.
Israel/Palestine
We support
610. Ending U.S. funding/support to Israel.
611. Immediate permanent ceasefire.
612. Return of Palestinian hostages/detainees.
613. Registration of AIPAC and affiliates as foreign agents under FARA.
614. Palestine full UN membership.
615. Establishment of a single self-determining continuous secular and viable
Palestinian state.
616. Palestinian Right of Return.
617. Recognition of the Nakba.
618. Recognition of Israel as a colonist state.
619. Palestinians/Israelis security/democracy/equal rights.
620. Condemnation of Israel’s genocide of Palestine.
621. The Sumud Flotilla and ending Israeli blockade.
622. Ending Israel’s invasion/occupation of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.
We oppose
623. Israeli apartheid, occupation & settlement of Palestine.
624. Israel’s nuclear weapons.
625. Legislation punishing/prohibiting BDS.
Iran
We support
626. Resuming the JCPOA nuclear agreement.
627. Full US military withdrawal.
We oppose
628. US/Israeli wars of aggression.
629. Targeting civilian infrastructure.
Immigration
We support
630. Birthright citizenship.
631. Humane treatment/due process/labor rights for all immigrants.
632. Abolishing DHS and reinstating sub-agencies to their original departments.
633. Abolishing ICE and CBP.
634. Protecting/reuniting separated children.
635. Sponsor-less immigration.
636. Protecting immigrants and their families’ civil rights.
637. Recognizing immigrants’ LGBTQIA+ relationships.
638. Humanitarian border.
639. Equal Asylum.
We oppose
640. Foreign/domestic data collection and mass surveillance.
641. Concentration camps and similar detention facilities.
642. Laken Riley Act.
643. Criminalization of immigration.
644. Inhumane conditions & for-profit detention.
645. Border militarization/walls.
646. Discriminatory visa regulations.
647. Separating families.
648. Deportation to third-party countries.
Trade/Development
We support
649. Reducing international arms trade.
650. Unfreezing finances for aid.
6551. SDGs.
652.Emerging Countries Developmental Assistance.
653. FTAs with environmental/social/labor standards.
654. Global collaborative guided economic development.
We oppose
655. Use/weaponization of tariffs without congressional approval.
656. Economic exploitation/imperialism.
657. Trade deals that harm workers/consumers/the environment.
658. Currency manipulation.
659. The WTO and IMF.
International Laws & Organizations Participation
We support
660. CEDAW/UNCRC/RSICC/ICPAPED/Geneva & Vienna Conventions/CRPD/ IBHR/HRC/UNCAT/UDHR/UNSCR, 1325, 1888.
Trade
We support
661. UNCLS.
Environment
We support
662. Paris Climate Accords/UNFCC/GPT/CBDCNP/GOT.
Diplomacy
We support
663. UN.
664. OAS.
Health & Humanitarian
We support
665. WHO/NSC/HHS/CDC/NIH addressing global pandemics.
666. USAID/GFATM.
667. UNRWA/AAA.
Security
We support
668. ICC/ICJ.
669. NATO.
670. UN Peacekeeping.
671. TPNW/CTBT/START/NPT/ATT/BWC/APMBC/CCM/CCW.
We oppose
672. Treaties limiting free access to the internet.
673. Treaties establishing online identity verification.
674. Killing/detention of journalists/aid workers/opposition leaders.
675. Aid enabling oppression.
676. Subverting democracy.
677. Apartheid regimes.
678. Blockades/embargoes harming civilians.
Acronyms Used in This Section
UN – United Nations
AIPAC – American Israeli Political Action Committee
FARA – Foreign Agents Registration Act
BDS – Boycott, Divest, Sanction
JCPOA – Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
DHS – Department of Homeland Security
ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement
CBP – Customs and Border Patrol
LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual/Agender, and other sexual orientations and gender identities (+)
SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals
FTAs – Free Trade Agreements
WTO – World Trade Organization
IMF – International Monetary Fund
CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
UNCRC – United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
RSICC – Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
ICPAPED – International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance
CRPD – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
IBHR – International Bill of Human Rights
HRC – Human Rights Council
UNCAT – United Nations Convention Against Torture
UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UNSCR – United Nations Security Council Resolution
UNCLS – United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
UNFCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
GPT – Global Plastics Treaty
CBDCNP – Convention on Biological Diversity / Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols
GOT – Global Ocean Treaty
OAS – Organization of American States
WHO – World Health Organization
NSC – National Security Council
HHS – Department of Health and Human Services
CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NIH – National Institutes of Health
USAID – United States Agency for International Development
GFATM – Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
UNRWA – United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
AAA – Afghan Adjustments Act
ICC – International Criminal Court
ICJ – International Court of Justice
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
TPNW – Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
CTBT – Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
START – Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
NPT – Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
ATT – Arms Trade Treaty
BWC – Biological Weapons Convention
APMBC – Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
CCM – Convention on Cluster Munitions
CCW – Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons