Iowa activists challenge Democratic candidates to be 'bold'

Dozens of liberal and Democratic activists from around Iowa have signed onto a statement challenging the party's presidential candidates to embrace "big, bold, economic populist ideas" in 2016.

Among the Iowa signatories on the Progressive Change Campaign Committee's "Ready for Boldness" initiative are recently retired U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, state Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, former congressmen Dave Nagle and Berkley Bedell, and longtime activist Roxanne Conlin.

The Ready for Boldness campaign is aimed at pushing Democratic candidates to embrace college affordability measures, expanded Social Security benefits, clean energy, financial regulation and campaign finance reform.

"The best way for Democrats to win the 2016 presidential election is by campaigning on bold Elizabeth Warren-style ideas that are popular with voters across in red, purple, and blue states," Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green said in a statement. "Ready For Boldness isn't about any one candidate — it's about shifting the political environment and ensuring the Democratic Party stands for big, bold, popular ideas."

Many of those signing onto the statement emphasized income inequality as the top issue for Democrats to confront in the coming presidential campaign.

"Economic populism is alive and well in Iowa and across the heartland," Conlin, a 2010 candidate for Senate, said in a statement. "The issues in this joint statement are so important to America, and bold populist ideas should be the center of our Democratic agenda in 2016."

Warren, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts is beloved by the Democratic Party's activist liberal base, but has repeatedly said she's not running for president.

The most likely Democratic candidate is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and Independent Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders also have indicated interest.

In addition to the dozens of Iowa activists, several dozen New Hampshire Democrats also signed onto the statement.

Here's the full list of Iowans:

• Former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA

• Mike Fitzgerald, Iowa State Treasurer

• U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, IA-2

• Former U.S. Rep. Dave Nagle, IA-3

• Former U.S. Rep. Berkley Bedell, IA-6

• Roxanne Conlin, former Iowa Democratic Party Chair

• Former Speaker of the Iowa House Patrick Murphy

• Steve Abbott, CWA Iowa State Council President

• Mark Cooper, South Central Iowa Federation of Labor President

• Cathy Glasson, SEIU Local 199 President

• Sue Dinsdale, Iowa Citizens Action Network Executive Director

• State Rep. Sharon Steckman, District 53

• State Rep. Phyllis Thede, District 93

• State Rep. Art Staed, District 66

• State Rep. Dan Kelley, District 29

• State Rep. Liz Bennett, District 65

• State Rep. Cindy Winckler, District 86

• Rick Smith, Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee Member

• Julie Theulen, Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee Member; Shelby County Democrats Co-Chair

• Jennifer Harrington, Page County Democrats Chair

• Kurt Meyer, Tri-County Democrats Chair

• John Stone, Cerro Gordo County Democrats Chair

• Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democrats Chair

• Larry Hodgen, Cedar County Democrats Chair

• James Berge, Worth County Democrats Chair

• Don Paulson, Muscatine County Democrats Chair

• Robert Bell, Madison County Democrats Chair

• Lorraine Williams, Washington County Democrats Chair

• Walt Pregler, Dubuque County Democrats Chair

• Dr. Gerene M. Denning, Johnson County Democrats Chair

• Kim Weaver, O'Brien County Democrats Chair

• Charlene Doyle, Poweshiek County Democrats Co-Chair

• George Ensley, Boone County Democrats Co-Chair

• Daniel Hanson, Allamakee County Democrats Co-Chair

• Kevin Perkins, Scott County Democrats Finance and Elections Chair

• Louise Frakes, former Washington County Democrats Chair

• Dave Somsky, former Woodbury County Democrats Chair

• David Neas, former Clark Democrats Chair; former Audobon County Attorney; former ISEA Local President (Southwestern Community College Education Association)

• C. Kathleen Kerns, Cass County Democrats Vice Chair

• Michael Worrell, Page County Democrats Vice Chair and Treasurer

• Walden Paige, Marshall County Democratic Central Committee First Vice Chair

• Allyson Story, Linn County Democratic Central Committee Executive Board Financial Chair

• Rosemary Schwartz, former Benton County Democratic Central Committee Chair

• Sharon Holle, Scott County Democrats Central Committee Member

• Virginia Davis, Poweshiek County Central Committee Central Committee Member

• Sue Wilson, Dubuque County Democrats Committee Member

• Laura Twing, Cedar County Democratic Central Committee Treasurer

• Thomas Corrieri, Story County Democrats Treasurer

• Mary Loney Bichell, former Dubuque Democrats Treasurer

• James Blair, former Des Moines County Democrats Secretary and Treasurer

• Monica Vernon, Congressional Candidate, IA-1

• Ravi Patel, Congressional Candidate, IA-1; President, Hawkeye Hotel

• Gary Kroeger, Prospective Congressional Candidate, IA-1

• Thomas Baldridge, former Johnson County Precinct Chair

• Harold Render, former Iowa Convention Delegate

• Sherrie Taha, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture candidate

• Teresa Meyer, former Candidate for District 63; AFSCME member

• Jonathan Neiderbach, former State Auditor Democratic Candidate

• Jeff Smith, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union Local 3 President

• Sandy Doerring, SEIU Local 199 Officer

• Randy Boulton, United Steelworkers (USW) Sub-Director

• Chad McFarland, UAW Local 450 Executive Board Member

• R. Ben Stone, former ACLU of Iowa Executive Director

• Mike Carberry, Johnson County Supervisor

• Mayor Gary Wilkinson, Oxford

• Former Mayor Richard Warren, Elodra; former Milpitas City Council Member

• Skip Moore, Des Moines City Council Member

• Michael Wilbur, Primghar City Council Member; former UFCW Local 179 President

• Dale Todd, former Cedar Rapids City Council Member

• Susan Beary, former Lovila City Council Member

• Som Baccam, Broadlawns Hospital Board of Trustees Member

• Maria Dickmann, Davenport School Board Member

• Nolden Gentry, Des Moines School Board Member

• Flora Lee, Sioux City School Board Member; NEA Member

• Richard Paulus, West Branch School Board Member

• James Perrin, former OFA Deputy Field Organizer

• Elizabeth Belden, 2008 OFA Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus Leader

• Kari Carney, Women Building Power Co-Founder and Principle

• Bridget Fagan, Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund Activist

• W. Michael Biklen, retired United Methodist Church Clergy

• Darrell Mitchell, retired United Methodist Church Pastor

• Tom Rendon, Organizational Leader

• Eloise Cranke, Organizational Leader

• Chet Guinn, Organizational Leader

• Matt Hildreth, Organizational Leader

• Lena Robinson, Organizational Leader

• Nathan Blake, Community Leader