Under the sweltering late-summer sun in Des Moines, Iowa, a crowd of energized Democrats gathered on September 13, 2025, for the Polk County Democrats' annual Steak Fry at Water Works Park. Temperatures soared past 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the heat did little to dampen the spirits of attendees or the urgency of the moment. With pivotal races for the U.S. Senate, governor, and Congress on the horizon, the event became a rallying point for Democrats eager to chart a new course in the face of shifting political winds and mounting national challenges.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland took center stage as keynote speaker, delivering a pointed message to the hundreds assembled. According to the Des Moines Register, Van Hollen called on Iowa Democrats to unite against the GOP and push back on what he described as dangerous actions by the Trump administration. "There is no cavalry coming. There's no rescue operation from the DNC. There's no magic hand from Washington ... It really is up to all of us to seize responsibility for our country in this moment," he declared, urging the crowd to take ownership of their political future.
Van Hollen's address came at a time when the Democratic Party, both in Iowa and nationally, is grappling with internal questions about its direction and its ability to connect with voters. He acknowledged that the party has "drifted" and allowed itself to be swayed by powerful interests, insisting that Democrats must be ready to take on special interests and fight for working people. The senator's remarks echoed themes that resonated at the same time in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the Democratic State Party convened its annual convention at the MassMutual Center. There, party leaders adopted a sweeping four-year platform focused on protecting health care, reproductive rights, immigrants, and education from policies associated with the Trump administration and the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," which they argue has led to deep cuts and hardship for millions.
In both Iowa and Massachusetts, Democrats expressed alarm over the impact of President Donald Trump's policies. At the Springfield convention, elected officials united in opposition to measures they said would strip health insurance from 15 million Americans, undermine Social Security, and put additional strain on working-class families already struggling with rising costs. The urgency of these issues was palpable in Des Moines as well, where candidates for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat, the 3rd Congressional District, and the 4th Congressional District made their pitches to voters ahead of the 2026 primaries.
But it was Van Hollen's sharp criticism of the Trump administration's response to the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that drew some of the most impassioned reactions. Kirk, a prominent figure on the right, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. In a speech following Kirk's death, President Trump blamed the "radical left," a move Van Hollen condemned as divisive and opportunistic. "The answer cannot be more violence. The answer cannot be vengeance," Van Hollen said. "Sadly, the president is using this moment not to unite America against political violence, but to engage in finger pointing."
The senator also turned his attention to foreign policy, specifically the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Earlier in the week, Van Hollen and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley released a report based on their official visit to the region. The report accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of using food as a weapon of war and attempting to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians. Van Hollen did not mince words, calling the Biden administration "feckless" for failing to hold Netanyahu accountable and criticizing both Republicans and Democrats in Congress for supporting additional arms shipments to Israel despite the humanitarian blockade. "Not only Republicans, but far too many Democrats in Congress have looked the other way. Too many voted to send the Netanyahu government more bombs for Gaza, even as Netanyahu had cut off all food for Gaza," he said, according to the Des Moines Register.
Immigration policy was another flashpoint. Van Hollen advocated for what he called a "sane and fair" approach, drawing on his April trip to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who had been mistakenly deported under the Trump administration. The White House, for its part, described Van Hollen's actions as "truly disgusting"—a stark illustration of the deep divisions over immigration. "Yes, we must secure the border," Van Hollen told the crowd. "I've long said that, yes, we should remove the worst of the worst who have committed terrible crimes, but no to mass deportation; no to tearing families apart; no to concentration camps; no to surrendering the right of due process; and yes to improving our legal immigration system so that we can continue to represent the value symbolized by the Statue of Liberty."
The shifting political landscape in Iowa was also front and center. Following Republican Senator Joni Ernst's announcement that she would not seek reelection, Iowa's 2nd Congressional District Representative Ashley Hinson quickly entered the Senate race, securing endorsements from former President Trump and other prominent GOP figures. On the Democratic side, Senate candidates Nathan Sage, state Rep. Josh Turek, state Sen. Zach Wahls, and Jackie Norris all told reporters their campaign messaging would remain consistent despite the shakeup. Turek described the changes as "same votes, same ideology, new face," while Norris insisted that Hinson would have to "own the same thing that Joni Ernst did, so Medicaid cuts, rural health care being decimated, veterans' health care cuts. It's all of it. It's the same thing. She's going out, she's gotta defend it. So she has to own it and she has to defend it."
Yet, for all the focus on candidates and platforms, many voters at the Steak Fry voiced concern that the Democratic Party still struggles to communicate its message effectively. Mary Ann Ahrens, 82, of West Des Moines, remarked, "They're sick of all of the game playing and criminal activity that has seemed to have taken over. People are so angry that they're looking at themselves about 'Wait a minute, I don't like this.'" She added, "I think we need something short and sweet and to the point. I think Republicans have been better at doing that, not that it's the best thing that they're saying, but it's how they're doing it. But I think we [Democrats] really need more help along those lines."
John Hale, 73, of Ankeny, echoed the importance of outreach, especially to independents and those who have voted only sporadically in the past. "I think the key challenge is going to be outreach, getting to all of those people who haven't voted before, or who have voted sporadically in the past—those folks have got to show up for Democrats to win. It's not just reaching Democrats. It's also reaching out to and appealing to independents," he said.
As both Iowa and Massachusetts Democrats left their respective gatherings, the challenges ahead were clear: unite the party, sharpen the message, and mobilize a broader coalition to counter Republican advances. The road to the 2026 elections will test whether Democrats can turn their platform and convictions into electoral momentum—or whether divisions and communication hurdles will slow their progress. The stakes, as speakers and attendees agreed, could hardly be higher.
