Iowa Democrats are Becoming Democratic Socialists!

On October 15, the website Bleeding Heartland published an article titled “Iowa Democratic Party’s 2026 platform: Democracy in Action.”  The article was written by Brian McLain, co-chair of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Platform Committee.  In this article he wrote:

Typically this document [the party platform] 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.

A review of the Democrat Party’s platform shown in this article explains why it had not been published, especially before the November 3^rd election.  The Iowa Democrat Party has veered hard left and has some policies that are actually in line with those of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)!

What is the DSA?  This is from their website:

The Democratic Socialists of America is building a party whose goal is a democratic society of the working class. Our enemies are not just individual bosses, but the entire global system of capital; not just this or that cop, judge, or president, but the entire anti-democratic structure of our society. We are workers fighting to transform society: to win the battle for democracy, draft a new constitution, and create a democratic socialist republic…we know complete victory will require building a new society from the ground up.

Here are goals the Iowa Democrat Party platform has in common with the DSA (I have included the Democrat Party platform numbers):

1. Abolishing the Electoral College. (354)
2. Creating a Unicameral Congress. (408) [Meaning the U.S. Senate would be abolished.]
3. Supremacy of Congress. (409) [The President and the Supreme Court would be subordinate to Congress.]
4. Increase the number of Members of Congress. (410) [Includes allowing Washington DC and U.S. Territories to vote for members of Congress.]
5. Abolishing ICE. [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] (633)

But the Iowa Democrat Party platform has other eye-opening positions, for example:

The Iowa State Democrat Party is in favor of:

1. The Expansion of the Supreme Court of the United States (416) [Adding more liberal judges — goodbye 2nd Amendment!]
2. Classifying “withholding gender-affirming care from children” as child abuse. (569)
3. Transgender/intersex children’s right to utilize names, restrooms/locker-rooms, and sports-teams/activities matching their gender-identities. (225) [Boys in girls’ locker rooms/bathrooms and on girls’ sports team.]
4. Abolishing the Department of Homeland Security (632) and Customs and Border Protection. (633)
5. Transitioning weapons industries toward civilian-use manufacturing. (113) [What?  Sounds like big government would enforce the transition.]
6. De-emphasizing standardized tests. (200) [So how do you measure student learning?]
7. BCE (Background Check Expansion Act) (333) [Legislation that requires background checks for all gun sales, including private transfers, gun shows, and online transactions.]

The Iowa State Democrat Party opposes:

1. Having School Resource officers stationed inside schools. (258) [So where would they be stationed?]
2. Having state/local law-enforcement cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security. (304)
3. Stand-Your-Ground/Castle-Doctrine. (337)
4. Criminalization of immigration. (643) [So, there would be no such thing as “illegal” immigration, meaning open borders.]
5. Walls along the border. (645)

Iowa Democrats had veered hard left and wanted to hide it from the voters before the November 3rd election.  It is disturbing that Iowa Democrats now align with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in wanting to make fundamental changes to our form of government and in effect, change American society into a supposed socialist paradise.

We have been warned!  Don’t sit out this election!  Get out and vote, and keep the DSA and Iowa Democrats, sorry for the redundancy, away from having any power over us.  Vote Republican across the ballot!

This column orignially appeared in The Iowa Standard.

AUTHOR

Dr. Stephen M. Kirby, PhD

Dr. Stephen M. Kirby is the author of six books about Islam. His latest book is Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials.  He is also the Chair for the Warren County Republicans.  The views expressed here are his own.

©2026 Dr. Stephen M. Kirby, PhD. All rights reserved.