Independent Candidate Bushaw Brings Working-Class Message to Decorah Town Hall

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. DECORAH — Independent congressional candidate Dave Bushaw told attendees at a town hall in Decorah that working-class voters in northeast Iowa have been shut out of meaningful political power for decades, arguing that both major political parties have failed to deliver results on health care, water quality, housing and economic stability. Bushaw, a labor unionist and Fayette County farmland owner running for Congress in Iowa's 2nd District, spoke Saturday afternoon at The Landing Market as part of a February town hall tour aimed at engaging voters outside traditional campaign settings. The event drew local residents, union members, students and first-time political attendees, many of whom pressed Bushaw on issues ranging from agricultural pollution and cancer rates to education, climate change and health care costs. "We haven't had any real consequential legislation that's helped working people in decades," Bushaw said during the question-and-answer portion of the forum. "People look at this system and ask, 'Why would I vote?' And honestly, I don't blame them." Bushaw, 31, described himself as a lifelong member of the working class who left high school in the 10th grade, worked in manufacturing and agriculture, and later became a labor organizer. He said his campaign is rooted in what he calls solution-oriented policies rather than partisan messaging. "I'm not going to give you a crappy political answer," Bushaw told the crowd. "I'm the working class, and I'm not going to forget where I come from." Supporters emphasize independence, integritySeveral speakers introduced Bushaw before he took the microphone, including Scott Bodley, a truck driver for a cooperative and a candidate for Iowa House District 68, and Jim Tripp, a public school teacher and union member. Bodley said Bushaw's experience in labor organizing and rural advocacy made him well-suited for Congress, calling government "a lot like a co-op—messy sometimes, but necessary." Tripp, who first met Bushaw during Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns, said Bushaw's defining trait was integrity. "I don't see him saying one thing and doing another," Tripp said. "Even if that means taking the hard route and running as an independent." Tripp criticized both national parties for prioritizing wealthy donors over working families and said fears of independent candidates acting as spoilers have stifled political change. Water quality, agriculture and cancer concernsWater quality and cancer rates emerged as recurring themes, with attendees raising concerns about agricultural runoff and contamination in northeast Iowa. Bushaw blamed corporate agriculture for overfertilization and pollution while defending small and midsize farmers. "We overfertilize our fields by 300% to 500%," Bushaw said, arguing that Iowa contributes a disproportionate share of nitrates and phosphates entering the Mississippi River. He said multinational agricultural corporations — not local farmers — are responsible for practices that degrade water quality while driving up cancer rates. Bushaw said he supports crop diversification, incentives for oat production and policies aimed at reducing corporate consolidation of farmland. He said about 23% of Iowa farmland is now held under corporate or trust ownership, compared with less than 1% in the early 1980s. "They don't drink our water, breathe our air or walk on our soil," he said of corporate landowners. Health care, housing and rural declineHealth care dominated much of the discussion, with attendees sharing personal stories about cancer, disability and medical debt. Bushaw reiterated his support for a universal, single-payer health care system, describing insurance premiums, deductibles and copays as "private taxes" imposed on working families. "The United States is the only developed nation on Earth that guarantees you can go bankrupt if you get sick," Bushaw said. "That's not freedom. That's failure." Bushaw said universal coverage would stabilize rural hospitals, reduce financial strain on families and allow greater emphasis on preventive care. He also addressed population decline and the loss of young people from rural Iowa, citing low wages, declining education funding, limited job opportunities and environmental health concerns. "We've got the highest cancer rates, a $7.25 minimum wage, collapsing education and harsh winters," Bushaw said. "Why would young people stay?" Bushaw criticized the growing role of private equity firms in housing markets, citing projections that such firms could control up to 40% of single-family homes by 2030. He said he would support banning private equity ownership of housing, nursing homes, trailer parks and farmland, calling the trend a threat to affordability and community stability. "That concentration of ownership is terrifying," he said. On education, Bushaw said Iowa's public school system has declined sharply since the 1990s, pointing to low teacher pay and rising administrative costs. He called for stronger partnerships between schools and trade unions to expand apprenticeship opportunities, particularly in rural areas. "It's going to take all of us."In a follow-up interview after the town hall, Bushaw identified child care, housing affordability and water quality as major issues facing Winneshiek County residents. He said many Iowa families live in child care deserts where services are either unaffordable or unavailable, and he supports universal, all-day child care and prekindergarten programs. "We want working-class folks to be able to work without needing a second job just to pay for child care," Bushaw said. Bushaw emphasized that his independence from both major political parties is central to his campaign, saying he has no ties to corporate donors, super PACs or party leadership. "All of our systems were built from scratch," he said. "If this campaign succeeds, it's because regular people decided they wanted another option on the ballot." He said he expects pressure from both parties to exit the race but has no plans to do so. "I have no loyalty to either party," Bushaw said. "So I don't know what I'm spoiling." Bushaw said he has been encouraged by the response to his message, particularly from voters who have never participated in elections. "Some of the people who pushed me to run had never voted before," he said. "That matters to me." Bushaw said he plans to continue hosting town halls throughout northeast Iowa on evenings and weekends to accommodate working families. His campaign is collecting signatures and recruiting volunteers to secure a place on the November ballot as an independent candidate in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. "If people want an independent option on the ballot," he said, "it's going to take all of us." Don't miss a beat! Subscribe for free and receive the stories, insights, and events that keep your community thriving.