First Stop: Lawton | September 12
(WOODBURY COUNTY, IOWA) September 8, 2026 —Woodbury County Democratic candidates are taking their campaigns directly to rural voters this fall, launching a listening and canvassing tour ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election. Candidates will attend City Council meetings in rural towns across the county, then return within a week or so to launch canvassing events from local gathering spots. Residents in each town who are interested in helping the candidates canvass in their towns are encouraged to do so.
Said Woodbury County Democratic Party Chair Ryan Akerberg, “Democrats—including our county party — haven’t shown up in rural areas the way we should. Rural Iowans are living with a cancer crisis, polluted water, a healthcare system that’s disappearing county by county, soaring gas and grocery prices and an ag economy under real strain. The people who have been in charge have done little or nothing about it, but saying so isn’t enough. This tour is how we show up, listen first, and tell people what we’d do differently.”
Towns tentatively on the agenda and the dates of their City Council meetings include:
- Lawton (Sept. 9)
- Hornick (Sept. 14)
- Sloan (Sept. 17)
- Sergeant Bluff (Sept. 22)
- Moville (Oct. 7)
- Anthon and Correctionville (Oct. 12)
Candidates below have been invited to participate in tour stops in the towns their districts include:
- Dave Dawson, U.S. House District 4 (all of Woodbury County)
- Catelin Drey, Iowa Senate District 1 (includes Lawton)
- Jessica Lopez-Walker, Iowa House District 2 (includes Lawton)
- Ben Mulford, Woodbury County Attorney (all of Woodbury County)
- Jody House, Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, District 2 (countywide vote)
- Brittney Wilson, Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, District 4 (countywide vote)
Meet Us in Lawton
The first of the canvassing events will be held at Tara Way Park in Lawton, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. Woodbury County Candidates confirmed to attend are Drey, Lopez-Walker, Mulford, House and Wilson. Woodbury County Democrats invite all interested persons to stop by, whether to volunteer for a canvassing shift or just to enjoy a snack, drink and conversation about topics of the day. The county party will provide food, beverages and raffle prizes available to volunteers who complete a two-hour canvassing shift.
Woodbury County Democrats will provide details about the candidates confirming attendance, and the local meeting times and places in other towns as those details are finalized.
About WCDP
The Woodbury County Democratic Party works to recruit, elect and support Democratic candidates to political offices at every level of government. We aim to build a brighter future for our citizens and communities by promoting the democratic principles of liberty, justice and equal opportunity.