Jesse Parker is a concerned citizen with an educational background in history and politics.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is a reminder that the Democratic Party needs to recruit, revitalize, and inspire a younger voter base. Over the span of twelve years, Iowa flipped from a swing state that voted for Barack Obama to a solid red state. This year, Democrats must begin the work to flip the colors back.

While Iowa voter turnout hovered around 74 percent for the recent presidential election, young Iowans mark a problematic demographic with disappointing voter participation. Iowans aged 18-24 had an abysmal turnout rate of 29 percent in the 2022 general election, while 25–34-year-olds were only slightly more likely to participate (33 percent turnout).

Although these figures present a common trend among young voters in the nation, 2025 presents a strategic opportunity to engage with young progressives across the state.

The calamity of the second Trump administration coincides neatly with Iowa Republican efforts to remove rights from the transgender community. Iowans responded with one of the most robust and boisterous displays seen within the state capitol. More than 2,000 people came to protest the discriminatory bill on Thursday alone.

Elections have consequences, and these ones captured the attention of young Iowans. Their voices are being heard in front of the state capitol and on street corners, while social media and personal conversations are consumed with political dialogue. County Democratic organizations must recognize and capitalize on this energy at the local level, in order to improve youth voter turnout in 2026.

I attended a recent town hall meeting featuring State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott and State Representative Kenan Judge in Waukee. It was striking that as a man in his mid-30s, I was the youngest person there. Young Iowans are not attending organized political discussions. They are not associated with local Democratic organizations. They are out on the streets, holding signs, chanting in the state capitol rotunda, and planning localized protests in various online forums. Their energy and enthusiasm is a refreshing display of democratic voice. We can’t squander their efforts and emotional courage.

While Donald Trump’s first weeks are marked with chaos, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican majority in the Iowa House and Senate are exasperating an already volatile populace. On February 28, Reynolds signed Senate File 418, eliminating gender identity protections, making Iowa the first state in the nation to remove any protected class. from its civil rights code.

The continued under-funding of public schools and the state’s near-total abortion ban are further provoking young progressive Iowans. They desire to be heard. Local Democratic organizations should be their megaphone and champion.

County or neighborhood Democratic groups need an innovative recruiting and retention approach to attract young progressives to vote in future elections. What’s been tried in the past hasn’t generated enough political activity among young voters. Organizing and mobilizing young voters could turn Iowa blue in 2026 and protect democracy in 2028.

The Iowa Democratic Party maintains a network of organizations across 99 counties. Some of these organizations have excelled at knocking on doors, participating in parades, holding town halls, and creating discourse within their ranks. However, young Iowa voters are politically active in different ways, often outside the traditional party networks. Thus, it is critical for the Iowa Democratic Party to set goals and forward-thinking objectives that will inspire young progressive voters.

Policies pushed by Trump and Reynolds threaten Iowans’ well-being, but also present an opportunity for Iowa Democrats to rebound, with the right vision and approach.