Our 2025 Off-Year Caucus Platform reflects the values, priorities, and voices of Democrats across Carroll County. Shaped through community input and local engagement, this platform outlines the issues that matter most to us—from protecting public education and expanding healthcare access to strengthening rural communities and defending democracy. It serves as a roadmap for our advocacy, organizing, and legislative goals in the year ahead.

What We Believe

As Carroll County Democrats, we are guided by a shared commitment to fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all. Our values are rooted in the belief that government should serve the people—protecting rights, expanding access to essential services, and ensuring every Iowan can thrive. From strong public education and workers’ rights to healthcare access and democratic accountability, we advocate for policies that put people first. Below, you’ll find the principles we stand for across key areas of public life.

 

Economy, Commerce, and Labor

  • We believe every American deserves a living wage, and the federal minimum wage should be raised to at least $15 per hour.

 

Education

  • We believe local communities should retain authority over their schools through empowered, elected school boards.
  • We believe in strong, fully funded public schools. The State legislature must provide consistent increases in Supplemental State Aid (SSA) and meet budget deadlines to ensure stable and equitable education for all students.
  • We believe public tax dollars should remain in the public education system. Diverting funds through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) without transparency or oversight undermines accountability and educational equity.
  • We believe in restoring and fully funding Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to ensure students and educators have access to critical support services and resources.
  • We believe all K–12 students should have access to free school meals, recognizing nutrition as essential to learning and student well-being. 
  • We believe in re-establishing a strong and independent Department of Education to support nationwide educational standards and equity.

 

Government and Law

  • We believe our democracy is threatened by unlimited political spending. We support overturning Citizens United v. FEC (2010) and enacting campaign finance reforms that cap contributions, close loopholes, and eliminate dark money. 
  • We believe all persons, including undocumented immigrants, deserve basic legal protections and due process under the Constitution. 
  • We believe in defending freedom of expression and academic freedom. We oppose any form of censorship that violates First Amendment rights, including book bans and government-imposed curriculum restrictions. 
  • We believe presidential powers must be balanced by Congress. The use of executive orders should be limited, constitutionally grounded, and subject to legislative oversight.
  • We believe elected officials should be subject to term limits and an age cap to ensure accountability, generational representation, and leadership renewal.
  • We believe extreme income and wealth inequality undermine democratic institutions. The ultra-wealthy must pay their fair share through progressive taxation, including a higher tax rate on annual incomes above $3 million.
  • We believe that any restructuring or downsizing of government must be evidence-based, nonpartisan, and conducted under rigorous congressional oversight to prevent fraud, waste, and political abuse.
  • We believe the U.S. Postal Service is a vital public service and must be protected from privatization.

 

Health and Human Services

  • We believe health care is a fundamental human right and must be made accessible and affordable for all, regardless of income or employment status.
  • We believe Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are essential safety net programs that must be protected and strengthened, not cut or privatized.
  • We believe cancer research must be prioritized and funded at the state and federal levels, particularly in response to rising cancer rates in Iowa and across the nation.