Iowa Democrats are fighting 21st century campaigns with 20th century tools.
Too many Iowa county Democratic parties and progressive organizations are struggling with outdated tools, inconsistent communication, and limited digital presence. Activate Iowa bridges this gap by providing professional websites, voter education materials, social media support, and organizing tools to Democratic county parties, campaigns, and progressive advocacy groups across the state. We’re a volunteer network building the digital foundation Iowa’s progressive movement needs to compete—and win.
The Challenge
Missing Professional Websites
43 of Iowa’s 99 county Democratic organizations currently lack their own websites. Professional websites strengthen and complement social media efforts while providing stable, algorithm-independent communication channels.Websites serve as the central hub where all communications efforts – social media, newsletters, events, and voter outreach – can direct people for comprehensive information and action. With strong foundational digital infrastructure, counties can leverage social media more strategically – using websites as content hubs that social posts can drive traffic to, and email lists to amplify social media messaging.
Missing Consistent Email Communication
Some county party orgnaizations and progressive organizations send regular e-newsletters while others rely solely on occasional Facebook posts, creating gaps in voter, volunteer, and potential donor engagement. Without regular weekly or bi-weekly communication, counties miss opportunities for consistent relationship-building between election cycles.
Missing Shared Best Practices
Many innovative approaches to fundraising, candidate recruitment, and voter outreach lack consistent channels for sharing across county lines. This results in counties independently developing similar solutions and newer county chairs facing operational challenges that experienced organizers elsewhere in the state have already addressed.
Missing Streamlined Technical Support
County chairs, organizational leaders, and volunteers spend valuable time wrestling with website updates, newsletter design, and basic digital tools instead of focusing on voter outreach, fundraising, and organizing activities that directly impact elections.
The result:
Progressive organizing capacity across Iowa remains far below its potential, with counties unable to compete effectively in the digital landscape that increasingly determines electoral success. When basic digital foundations are weak, even strong social media efforts cannot reach their full potential.
Our Solution: Three Strategic Initiatives
1. County Website Initiative
Professional web presence offered to every Iowa county
Reduce Facebook dependency with stable, professional websites that Democrats control. Each county gets a custom site with local branding, event management, volunteer sign-ups, and direct voter communication tools.
Impact: Reliable digital presence that can’t be suspended, throttled, or manipulated by corporate algorithms.
LEARN MORE
2. County Newsletter Resource System
Shared e-newsletter tools for counties seeking support
Professional newsletter templates, shared content libraries, and coordinated messaging tools that maintain consistent voter engagement year-round while reducing volunteer workload.
Impact: Regular, professional communication that keeps Democratic voters informed and engaged between election cycles.
LEARN MORE
3. Shared Success Network
Scale success across Iowa’s Democratic network
Searchable database of organizing best practices, peer-to-peer learning networks, and documented strategies that help every county learn from statewide Democratic successes.
Impact: Stop reinventing the wheel—breakthrough innovations benefit all counties immediately.
LEARN MORE
Why this matters now
Digital infrastructure isn’t optional anymore—it’s the foundation of effective organizing.
Strong digital presence means better candidate recruitment, more effective fundraising, increased volunteer engagement, and higher voter turnout. Counties with professional digital infrastructure consistently outperform those relying on social media alone.
The 2026 midterms start now.
Building this infrastructure takes time, but the counties that start early will have significant advantages in candidate recruitment, volunteer organizing, and voter engagement.