The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox will return to the Iowa State Fair Aug. 9 through 19 with more than two dozen state and national political figures scheduled to appear.
A long-running tradition in Iowa politics, the Soapbox this year will feature candidates running for Congress, governor, secretary of state, secretary of agriculture, auditor and treasurer. And, because it’s Iowa, politicians both planning and considering 2020 presidential bids also are scheduled to speak.
The speeches will be held along the Grand Concourse in front of the Horner Service Center. Dates and times are subject to change, and more speakers may be added.
The Des Moines Register will live-stream all of the speakers at DesMoinesRegister.com/Soapbox.
This schedule will be updated online.
Thursday, August 9
- 11:00 a.m.: Democrat Michael Fitzgerald, running for state treasurer.Fitzgerald became Iowa’s 25th state treasurer in 1983 and is currently the longest-serving state treasurer in the United States.
- 11:30 a.m.: Democrat Abby Finkenauer, running for Congress in the 1st District.Finkenauer, a two-term state legislator from Dubuque, could be the youngest woman elected to Congress if she wins the race against incumbent U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, a Republican.
Friday, August 10
- 10:30 a.m.: Democrat Deidre DeJear, running for secretary of state. The 32-year-old is the first African-American candidate nominated by a major political party for a statewide office in Iowa and has campaigned in support of small businesses.
- 11:00 a.m.: Democrat John Delaney, running for president. Delaney has served as Maryland’s 6th congressional district representative since 2013 and was the first Democrat to announce a 2020 presidential bid.
Saturday, August 11
- 11:00 a.m.: Democrat Rob Sand, running for state auditor. Sand, a former assistant attorney general, has prosecuted public corruption and financial crimes, including the “Hot Lotto” case in which an Iowa employee at a multi-state lottery organization fixed jackpots worth almost $25 million.
- 12:00 p.m.: Democrat Fred Hubbell, running for governor. Hubbell, a Des Moines businessman, is campaigning on budget and Medicaid overhaul, more accessible mental health care and more funding for public education and job training programs.
- 2:00 p.m.: Independent Evan McMullin. McMullin, a former Central Intelligence Agency operations officer, ran as an independent for president during the 2016 election cycle.
- 2:30 p.m.: Democrat Eric Swalwell. Swalwell serves as California’s 15th District representative and chaired the Martin O’Malley PAC’s Young Professionals Leader Circle in 2014. The congressman may run for president.
- 3:00 p.m.: Democrat Tim Gannon, running for state secretary of…
