DES MOINES, Iowa — There are just 40 days until November elections and Iowa House Democrats are sharing their priorities for the 2025 legislative session with hopes of encouraging and exciting voters for down the ballot races.
The agenda laid out is very similar to the one from 2024.
The topics House Democrats plan to address are:
- Lower costs for Iowans
- Restore reproductive freedom
- Invest in public schools
- Legalize marijuana
House Democrats hope to shift the current Republican trifecta at the state house, as on top of having a Republican governor, both chambers have a Republican majority.
"The reason we're putting forward these four issues now with 40 days to go, is that we believe strongly that Iowans deserve to know what we stand for before they go to the ballot box," said Representative Jennifer Konfrst, House Minority Leader.
Iowa House Republicans Communications Director, Melissa Saitz responded saying, "Seeing the massive election success our agenda has had, it's not surprising to see Democrats taking some cues out of our book."
House Democrats are vowing to put forward a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive rights. They also want to defend public education at every opportunity and defund school vouchers.
House Republicans reacted to this by calling out House Democrats' voting record.
"Most recently, their voting record shows votes against historic tax cuts for all Iowans and against public-school teacher pay raises," Saitz said.
Ultimately, House Democrats say the 2025 priorities come from issues they hear Iowans are frustrated about.
Konfrst believes the impact of Republican led laws will show when Iowans head to the ballot box, and she hopes that will change the legislature makeup.
"They're [Iowa House Republicans] going to have a different attitude when they come to the legislature in January about the importance of listening to voters, because they will have just seen some of their colleagues lose their elections because they didn't, and so it's time that they start listening to Iowans too," Konfrst said.
Currently, Republicans have the majority in the House of Representatives with 64 Republicans to 36 Democrats.