Alexandra Dermody is a Davenport based Gen Z activist, nonprofit director, and small business owner who lives in Iowa House district 81.
Republican State Representative Luana Stoltenberg of Davenport has completed her first legislative session as the member from House District 81, covering part of Davenport. As a staunch social conservative with a troubling track record—including traveling to Washington, DC for Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021—Stoltenberg’s bid for office warrants a strong opposition.
Here are the reasons voters should replace her next year:
Alarming focus on abortion. Stoltenberg has made her stance on abortion a central pillar of her campaign. Endorsed by The FAMiLY Leader, an organization known for its socially conservative positions, Stoltenberg has actively aligned herself with anti-abortion nonprofits and serves on the board of the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders. Her extreme views on this issue—she supports a ban with no exceptions and prohibiting all actions to help someone obtain an abortion—threaten the reproductive rights and bodily autonomy of women in our community.
Resistance to progress. Stoltenberg’s opposition to vaccine requirements demonstrates a dangerous disregard for public health. In the midst of a global pandemic, where the safety and well-being of our community depend on widespread vaccination, her stance is irresponsible and undermines efforts to protect the vulnerable and restore normalcy.
Divisive education policies. By advocating for taxpayer-funded savings accounts to support families transitioning to private schools, Stoltenberg reveals a preference for privatization over investing in our public education system. This approach undermines the vital role public schools play in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion. It further exacerbates existing disparities and hampers our collective efforts to provide quality education for all.
Hostility towards equality. Stoltenberg’s support for stripping gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act raises serious concerns about her commitment to equality and inclusivity. Our society should be moving towards greater acceptance and understanding, not regressing to discriminatory practices that harm marginalized communities. Stoltenberg’s position undermines the progress we have made in ensuring equal rights for all individuals.
Lack of bipartisanship. Stoltenberg’s unwillingness to work in a bipartisan manner, as demonstrated by her staunch adherence to socially conservative values, reflects a troubling disregard for collaboration and compromise. Effective governance requires cooperation and the ability to find common ground, traits that Stoltenberg has yet to display in her legislative work.
Voters of northwest Davenport must consider the long-term consequences of electing a candidate with such extreme positions and divisive ideologies. Our community deserves representatives who will prioritize the well-being, rights, and progress of all residents, not just a select few.
As we gear up for the 2024 election cycle, let us reject Stoltenberg’s agenda that threatens the fundamental principles of fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Instead, we must rally behind candidates who embody the values we hold dear.
The power lies in our hands to safeguard our democracy and ensure a brighter future for our community. Let us cast our votes wisely, electing representatives who will champion progress, unity, and the well-being of all. Northwest Davenport deserves better than the regressive and divisive agenda Luana Stoltenberg represents.
Editor’s note from Laura Belin: Here is a map of House district 81. Stoltenberg was declared the winner of the 2022 election by eleven votes after a recount that exposed inconsistencies in the tabulation of absentee ballots.
Top photo of Luana Stoltenberg originally published on her Facebook page.