Photo by Julie Fleming

Elizabeth Warren brought her number of Iowa state legislator endorsements to ten today following last night’s Democratic debate. Cedar Rapids State Representative Art Staed announced he’d be in Warren’s corner on caucus night, along with 24 other notable Iowa Democratic and community leaders.

“Elizabeth Warren has the passion and intellect to unite and lead our nation,” Staed said. “Even in these times of polarization, we can make big, structural change if we lead with compassion, thoughtfulness and decisive action — and that’s exactly what Elizabeth will do.”

Five local elected officials added their names to Warren’s endorsement list, as well: Niki Conrad, Webster County supervisor; Jonathan Greider, newly-elected Waterloo city councilman; Heather Anderson, Des Moines Public Schools board member; Kalyn Cody, Des Moines Public Schools board member; and John Dabeet, Muscatine Community School District board member.

Warren also has a new pair of former legislators backing her: Charlie Bruner, a former state senator from Ames and Dave Osterberg, a former state representative from Mt. Vernon.

Several other names pop out, including Austin Frerick, who ran for Congress in 2018 and has become a major voice on agricultural and anti-trust issues in the state. Sandi O’Brien, a key Democratic activist in Woodbury County, also joins Warren.

There’s also a number of local party leaders in Warren’s list, the kind of activists that know how to organize a candidate’s corner on caucus night. Jan Creasman and Twyla Peacock, the Democratic county chairs of Harrison and Van Buren counties, respectively, are now with Warren. Zaak Barnes, the former Ankeny Area Democrats chair, joins up on this list as well.

The new round of endorsements come the day after Warren put in another solid performance on the debate stage, one that largely pleased her supporters at watch parties here. She has, however, slipped a bit in the latest Des Moines Register poll, after consistently moving up the ranks in Iowa for most of the year thanks to frequent trips and a good ground game.

Warren has two return trips to Iowa on the books before and after the Thanksgiving Day holiday. She’ll be doing a Des Moines metro tour this upcoming Monday, then an Eastern Iowa trip on December 1 and 2.

Here is the full new Warren endorsement list:

Art Staed, state representative, Cedar Rapids

Charlie Bruner, former state senator and child policy advocate, Ames

Dave Osterberg, former state representative, Mount Vernon

Niki Conrad, Webster County supervisor, Fort Dodge

Don Bailey, former Waukee mayor, Waukee

Jonathan Greider, Waterloo city councilman, Waterloo

Heather Anderson, Des Moines Public Schools board member, Des Moines

Kalyn Cody, Des Moines Public Schools board member, Des Moines

John Dabeet, Muscatine Community School District board member, Muscatine

Jan Creasman, Harrison County Democrats chair, Woodbine

Twyla Peacock, Van Buren County Democrats chair, Keosauqua

Sandi O’Brien, Woodbury County Democrats vice chair, Sioux City

Zaak Barnes, former Ankeny Area Democrats chair, Ankeny

Benjamin Breuer, Northwest Area Democrats treasurer, Des Moines

Colleen Caldwell, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Rural Caucus chair, Iowa City

Pat Navin, labor leader, Winterset

Don Dew, disability advocate, Sioux City

Greg Nepstad, community activist, Stuart

DJ Hassel, community activist, Windsor Heights

Kathy Eckhouse, community activist, Des Moines

Arlene McAtee, community activist, West Des Moines

Nate Mason, faith leader, Corydon

John Ikerd, retired professor of agricultural economics, Fairfield

Dave Gaul, farmer, Earling

Austin Frerick, agricultural reformer

by Pat Rynard

Posted 11/21/19