More than 1,000 Iowans gathered on the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol Oct. 18, 2025, as part of the national No Kings movement. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Organizers and politicians urged the crowd of more than 1,000, gathered Saturday at the Iowa State Capitol as part of the national No Kings protest, to stay engaged and help flip Iowa seats in the 2026 election.
The Des Moines event was one of more than 2,600 nonviolent demonstrations planned nationwide, with millions of participants protesting Trump administration actions on issues from cutting funding for public health programs, deploying National Guard troops to cities and mass deportations. It was the second No Kings national protest – the first was held in June in response to Donald Trump’s birthday military parade.
At the event, state lawmakers, union organizers, immigrant advocates and teachers decried Trump’s and Republicans’ policies. Speakers also emphasized Iowa will play a vital role in putting a check on Trump’s power in the 2026 election, and encouraged Iowans to vote and stay politically engaged.
Mike Draper, founder and owner of Raygun, a liberal-leaning shirt and souvenir business headquartered in Des Moines, told the crowd he invited U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn to a town hall Friday, but held up an empty chair with the sign with the sign “Representative Nunn” to show the Iowa 3rd District representative’s response. He criticized Nunn for not holding public town halls and said the Republican “doesn’t work for us,” but for Trump’s agenda.
He told the crowd that if Democrats win three seats in the U.S. House, there will be an effective “check on Trump’s power.”
“And as fate would have it, there are three competitive races in Iowa right now,” Draper said. “If we flip those three seats — all of which have been Democratic at some point in the last decade — Iowa alone will win the House of Representatives.”
In addition to the 3rd District, which is expected to be competitive, the congressional races for Iowa’s 1st and 2nd Districts are also expected to be more competitive than in previous election cycles. All four of Iowa’s congressional seats are currently held by Republicans.
While larger political topics like the federal government shutdown and release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein came up, some speakers said Trump’s trade policies have hurt Iowa in a unique way. Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union and a farmer from Polk County, said Trump’s tariffs and recent federal trade policies have hurt Iowa farmers, pointing to China’s move to buy soybeans from South American producers instead of American farmers.
“I’m telling you, thousands and thousands of Iowa farmers are on the brink of a crisis,” he said. “Chaotic tariffs have devastated the markets for what we grow, and they have raised the cost of our inputs, and they have gotten us no closer to fair trade for farmers and workers.”
Protesters came to the event dressed in costumes parodying Trump and other historical figures, carrying American and Palestinian flags, and holding up signs calling for political action.
Toby Kalage, a 19-year-old, carried a sign stating, “I am not the enemy, they are.” Kalage said that as a queer person of color, who recently exited the foster care system, they have been targeted by GOP policies.
Kalage said the protest made them feeling hopeful for Democrats chances in Iowa and nationwide in 2026 and future years.
“I came down because I wanted to be another person who was here, and having that effort made,” Kalage said. “And that adds up, for everyone who showed up here … It’s the same for voting.”
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