'There is so much at stake': U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris rallies Democrats in her debut Iowa trip

Brianne Pfannenstiel | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Kamala Harris rallies Iowa voters in Des Moines Kamala Harris, a Democrat Senator from California, speaks during a rally with Polk County Democrats on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Des Moines.

Democrats across the country are going to have to fight to reclaim power and redefine American values, California Sen. Kamala Harris said in her debut Iowa appearance Monday.

"This is a moment in time that’s requiring us to fight for the best of who we are," told a group of about 75 people at a meeting of the Asian Latino Coalition at the Iowa State Capitol on Monday morning. "And there is so much at stake."

It was her first stop on a two-day tour across the first-in-the-nation caucus state. But she declined to talk about her presidential ambitions. Instead, like other potential presidential candidates in Iowa lately, she said she is focused on next month's election.

"This is about 2018," she said. "2018 is going to be a pivotal year. There are incredible candidates in Iowa, very important issues at stake that are going to impact the future of the folks in this state and, frankly, the nation. So that’s why I’m here."

She reminded the Democrats gathered that even though they don't currently hold power in Washington, D.C., they have created change through organizing and advocating on issues like President Donald Trump's family separation policy and in protecting the Affordable Care Act.

"The people spoke. The organizing mattered," she said.

Harris also attended an early voting rally at the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny and a meet and greet in Indianola on Monday afternoon. She ended her public schedule with a rally for Polk County Democrats that drew more than 300 people to an event space in downtown Des Moines.

There, she called the 2018 election "an inflection point" in history that future generations will look back on.

"Our children and our grandchildren and others, years from now, are going to look in each of our eyes," she said. "And they’re going to ask us, 'So where were you at that inflection moment? Where were you?'"

Harris said Democrats should be able to say that they were knocking doors and making phone calls and getting people to the polls.

"Let’s not wake up in 16 days and have any regrets," Harris said. "There is too much on the line."

"She was inspiring, and she brought a lot of energy," said Maggie Ramold, a 25-year-old from West Des Moines who said she watched Harris through Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings and follows her on Twitter. "She's been on a national stage and to really focus down on local (races) in Polk County was really cool. ... I would love it if she ran for president."

Jane Weathers, a Des Moines resident, also called Harris's speech to Polk County Democrats inspiring.

"Coming here tonight was just to put the frosting on the cake when you’re already excited about the birthday," she said. "Listening to her just reinforced where my energy level was. But I want to see the community being in the same place, and people willing to say, 'This is not okay anymore.'"

Harris joins a slew of other potential 2020 presidential candidates visiting the state ahead of the Nov. 6 election, campaigning on behalf of Iowa's congressional and statewide candidates.

More: October round-up: Here are all the politicians visiting Iowa this month

Harris previously endorsed Democratic secretary of state candidate Deidre DeJear, who is the first African-American to be nominated by a major political party for a statewide office in Iowa.

"So much of what happens in our country, in terms of policy, happens at the state level," Harris said Monday. "So we want to have the right people in these offices who have their eye on that job and want to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the detail, and (DeJear) is that kind of person. I respect that about her."

More: Who's running for office in Iowa in 2018?

Harris' current communications director, Lily Adams, worked as Hillary Clinton's Iowa communications director during her 2016 presidential run. Another Clinton campaign alum, Kate Waters, recently worked for Harris and now works for state Rep. Abby Finkenauer's congressional campaign.

— Register staff writer Robin Opsahl contributed to this report.