Democrats Court Faith Voters at Decorah Campaign BBQ, Framing 2026 Election Around "Common-Good Issues"

Know what's happening in your hometown. Help us keep you informed. DECORAH — Democrats and religious organizers gathered Saturday in Decorah for a campaign barbecue aimed at mobilizing faith-based voters, with speakers discussing water quality, education, health care, affordability and the direction of Iowa and the country. The event at Phelps Park was hosted by Jeff Thurlow, the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 63, and featured Lindsay James, Democratic nominee for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, and Vote Common Good Executive Director Doug Pagitt. Iowa Democratic leaders including House Minority Leader Brian Meyer, state Rep. Ross Wilburn and former Iowa Senate leader Pam Jochum also addressed the crowd. The gathering was part of Vote Common Good's "Faith, Politics and Common Good" tour, an effort to engage voters in religious communities and encourage them to support Democratic candidates in November. The organization describes the tour as part of a broader campaign involving events, candidate training and direct voter outreach. For James, a Presbyterian chaplain who has served eight years in the Iowa Legislature, faith and public service are closely connected. She told the crowd that her path into politics began not in a lobbying office or boardroom but in seminary. She said her decision to become a chaplain was shaped by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the death of a friend aboard United Flight 93. She added that her work as a chaplain taught her about the practical challenges people face and about resilience, experiences that later informed her approach to public policy. "I wanted to show up for people in their hardest moments," James told attendees. She also drew on the biblical story of the Good Samaritan, saying the lesson extends beyond helping people who are already suffering. James cited an interpretation associated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that people have a responsibility not only to help those harmed along the road but to "fix the road itself." She used the metaphor to argue that government should address the underlying conditions contributing to hardship. James described families forced to make difficult choices over utility bills, winter clothing, rent, food, housing and medication. She also pointed to farmers affected by tariffs and manufacturers affected by trade disputes. "We need people with a moral compass and courage of conviction to do right by everyday, hardworking families in our state," James said. The event's emphasis on faith voters comes as Vote Common Good seeks to challenge the notion that religious voters, particularly Christians, belong naturally in one political camp. The organization's press materials describe its campaign as an effort to show voters that faith can inform political decisions without dictating allegiance to a particular party. James' role as a pastor has also become a point of criticism in the race. At a Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines in July, Republican opponent Joe Mitchell referred to James and other Democratic clergy candidates as "Pastors in Name Only." James did not focus on those attacks in her remarks at the Decorah event. Instead, she concentrated on the role of faith in motivating political action and on the economic and social problems she said are facing Iowa residents. James said she expects the race for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District to be decided by a narrow margin. James cited previous elections that she said had been decided by hundreds of votes, including one she said was decided by six votes. She urged attendees to use the remaining weeks of the campaign to knock on doors, make phone calls, send text messages and contribute financially. "The next 66 days are going to be critical," James said, "and this community in particular is critical". Wilburn made a similar appeal for personal political engagement, urging supporters to talk with neighbors rather than spending their energy arguing with political opponents on social media. He said conversations should focus on what matters to individual voters, such as a family member dealing with cancer or a grandchild attending school. "This is about creating opportunities for everyone, not just the richest 1% in Iowa," Wilburn said. Wilburn also criticized what he described as misplaced priorities among Republican leaders, arguing that Iowa officials should concentrate on issues such as water, education and the cost of living. Meyer, the Iowa House Democratic leader, also emphasized affordability, education and water quality. He said Democrats should seek to make Iowa more affordable, restore the state's reputation for educational excellence and make it a better place to live and raise a family. Water quality emerged as one of the most consistent themes of the afternoon. Meyer called water quality one of the state's most important issues and said Democrats need to work with farmers to clean up Iowa waterways. Thurlow, whose campaign hosted the event, made water quality the centerpiece of his own remarks. "Our water issues in Iowa are unacceptable at this rate," Thurlow said. He said Iowa needs to reduce nitrates in its waterways and take a leading role in addressing water pollution. Education was another priority for Thurlow. He recalled growing up when, in his view, Iowa was considered the nation's top state for education. His parents were educators, he said, and he expressed concern about the state's current position. Thurlow also called for improved access to health care in smaller communities, where residents may have to travel long distances for basic services. He criticized a property tax bill passed by the Legislature, saying it could put financial pressure on small communities and force them to choose between losing services, losing residents or raising fees. Thurlow characterized the past decade of Republican control in Iowa as a "10-year experiment" and argued that voters should use the upcoming election to change the state's political direction. He repeatedly returned to the 66 days remaining before the election, telling supporters that change would require more than casting a ballot. "It's not just voting," Thurlow said. "It's getting your neighbors and talking to people to encourage them to get out and make that change in November." The event also underscored the role of long-standing personal relationships in Iowa Democratic politics. Former Iowa Senate Leader Pam Jochum told attendees she had known Thurlow since he was 5 years old and endorsed Thurlow as someone who shares her values and highlighted water quality and other issues facing the state. Speakers repeatedly encouraged attendees to volunteer, distribute yard signs, donate money and contact voters who might otherwise sit out the election. The emphasis on personal relationships was consistent with Vote Common Good's stated strategy of engaging religious communities through sustained, direct contact rather than treating faith as simply another campaign issue. At the close of the event, the organizer encouraged supporters to see political participation as an ongoing practice through which ordinary people can create change. Organizer Toby Cain invoked Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste, who had recently addressed a gathering of community organizers in Washington, D.C., and described the attendees as "bright lights" working together. "We do have all that power," Cain said. "It is our moment to write the future that we want to see." Don't miss what's happening around Decorah. Get the news in your inbox.