2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

Jessica Trinidad Endorses Tom Steyer for President

Jessica Trinidad Endorses Tom Steyer for President

(Des Moines, Jan 24) Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer was endorsed by LULAC Deputy State Director for Young Adults Jessica Trinidad. Trinidad, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, lived in Mexico for most of her childhood and moved to Iowa when she was 18. Since then she’s established herself as an advocate for the Latino and immigrant community in Des Moines and across the state. Trinidad recently attended a Latino Leader Lunch with Steyer and was impressed by both him and Kat Taylor who have worked alongside the Latino communities in California on economic and environmental justice for years. Trinidad said this about her endorsement:

"I heard of Tom back when the need to impeach campaign started. I was really Impressed I thought finally somebody is actually doing something. When I had the opportunity to meet him in person I was really impressed with his knowledge and plans to alleviate key issues affecting our country specially immigration, climate change, and the wage gap. I had the opportunity to ask if he would be open to making it possible for the Mexican people fleeing the drug war to seek asylum and he completely understood why I had asked that question and he said yes he would be open to that and that was when I said ok he gets it."

Tom Steyer Final Sprint Bus Tour in Iowa on January 27 to February 3, 2020 ***Updated

Tom Steyer’s Final Sprint Bus Tour on January 27 to February 3, 2020 ***Updated

(Des Moines, Jan 21) Presidential candidate Tom Steyer, starting on the 27th, will be on a bus tour through Iowa to energize supporters, build on his continued momentum, and take the case to all Iowans that he’s the best candidate to expose Donald Trump on the economy. Trump has beaten both conventional Republicans and Democrats alike; it’s going to take an unconventional candidate running from the outside to win this election. It will be in these final days that undecided Iowans make up their minds. At the end of the day there is only one candidate making climate their number one priority and with the successful business experience to show that Trump is a fraud and a failure on the economy, and as Iowans go to their corners on Caucus Night, that Tom Steyer is the one candidate with a platform that generates economic prosperity for all.

January 27:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Ames
1805 Center Dr, Ames, IA 50011
January 27, 5:30 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/206778/

January 28:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Ankeny
Ankeny, IA 50021
January 28, 9:30 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/206787/

Des Moines Town Hall

January 29:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Knoxville
124 S 2nd St, Knoxville, IA 50138
January 29, 9:00 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/207857/

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Ottumwa
228 E Main St, Ottumwa, IA 52501
January 29, 12:00 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/207892/

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Fairfield
1949 Pleasant Plain Rd, Fairfield, IA 52556
January 29, 5:30 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/207967/

January 30:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Burlington
212 Jefferson St, Burlington, IA 52601
January 30, 8:00 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/207998/

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Muscatine
411 W Mississippi Dr, Muscatine, IA 52761
January 30, 11:00 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208002/

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Davenport
129 Main St, Davenport, IA 52801
January 30, 5:30 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208016/

January 31:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Clinton
Clinton, IA 52732
January 31, 12:00 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208052/

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Dubuque
500 Bell St, Dubuque, IA 52001
January 31, 5:30 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208074/

February 1:

AFSCME Coffee Caucus
When: February 1
Tom Speaks: 10:30 AM
Where: The Tavern II
1755 50th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Waterloo
Waterloo, IA 50701
February 1, 5:30 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208129/

February 2:

Town Hall with Tom Steyer in Iowa City
Iowa City, IA 52242
February 2, 2:00 pm CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208258/

Environmental Justice Town Hall in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
February 2, 11:30 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208153/

February 3:

Downtown Des Moines Canvass Launch with Tom Steyer
3810 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
February 3, 9:30 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208446/

Beaverdale Office Canvass Launch with Tom Steyer
2815 Beaver Ave #106, Des Moines, IA 50310
February 3, 9:30 am CST
https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/208442/

Des Moines Canvass Launch with Tom

When: February 3
Program Starts: 8:30 AM

Where: Tom 2020 Des Moines Office
3810 Ingersoll Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312

Caucus Night Celebration

When: February 3
Doors Open: 7:00 PM

Where: Iowa Tap Room-Marquette Room
215 E 3rd St #100
Des Moines, IA 50309

Tom Steyer Climate Conversations in Iowa on January 21, 2020

Tom Steyer Climate Conversations in Western Iowa

(Des Moines, Jan 18) Presidential candidate Tom Steyer will be back in Western Iowa for a quick trip on January 21 before coming back to Iowa full-time before the caucuses. Tom will be using his time to energize supporters and encourage Iowans to join the movement that’s going to prioritize climate and beat Donald Trump.

Meet and Greet in Council Bluffs

When: January 21
10:00-11:30 AM CT

Where: TBA https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/205004/

Meet and Greet in Atlantic

When: January 21
2:30-4:00 PM CT

Where: TBA https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/event/205011/

Iowa Activist Sherry Washington Endorses Tom Steyer

Sherry Washington Endorses Tom Steyer
Well known activist and leader in Fort Dodge endorses Steyer

(Des Moines, Jan. 15) Following a strong debate performance, presidential candidate Tom Steyer has been endorsed by Fort Dodge NAACP President and 4th District Affirmative Action Chair Sherry Washington. Washington sits on the Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission, and is an active member of her community, helping to organize meetings at the Coppin Chapel African Methodist Church, working with Webster County to address mental health, and volunteering at the Fort Dodge Residential Correctional Facility.

“Faith, family, community and diversity are priorities to me,” said Washington. “It’s about meeting people where they are. My support is for the candidate who is already doing the work.”

Washington’s endorsement is a reflection of Tom’s grassroots work to fight injustice and inequities for more than a decade. Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor have spent years working alongside communities of color on environmental and economic justice. Over a decade ago, they founded Beneficial State Bank to go into underserved communities and empower women and minority-owned businesses.

After surging to second place in South Carolina and third place in Nevada, and centering justice on the debate stage, many leaders in Iowa are giving Steyer a second look.

Tom Steyer Campaign Announces Over 15 Debate Watch Parties

Steyer Campaign Announces Over 15 Debate Watch Parties

(Des Moines, IA, Jan 11) After receiving two qualifying polls, Tom Steyer has qualified for the January debates in Des Moines. Immediately, TeamTom Iowa was able to mobilize its volunteers to host watch parties and text banks for the night of the debate. The Steyer campaign is 100% focused on reaching out to every voter, connecting, and bringing them into this movement, which means building a community.

Steyer said this about the debate in Iowa:
“Coming off the momentum of our bus tour, it's exciting to see the energy we’ve felt on the ground be reflected in the polls. We are building a grassroots movement ready to take on the climate crisis and beat Donald Trump. We know this means creating a winning coalition of independent voters and progressives, and that means having a campaign centered on the economy and economic justice. This campaign starts and ends at the grassroots level, and that stands true on debate night.”

https://www.mobilize.us/iafortomsteyer/

Steyer Campaign Announces New Round of Endorsements in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wisconsin

Steyer Campaign Announces New Round of Early State Endorsements
Community leaders in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wisconsin throw weight behind Steyer

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 10, 2020) — Momentum continues to build behind Tom Steyer’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination as three key leaders from New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wisconsin today announced their formal endorsement of the campaign.

From the Town of Rye in New Hampshire, Mae Bradshaw, the elected chair of the Rye’s Budget Committee, endorsed Steyer, citing his strong business background and commitment to building an economy that works for all Americans as reasons.

"Tom Steyer is a successful businessman who knows how to balance a budget and grow our economy in a way that benefits everyone. I am proud to support Tom because of his incredible track record of getting things done and because I believe he is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump when it comes to the economy."

On the heels of a recent Fox News Poll showing Steyer in second place in her state of South Carolina with 15% support, Orangeburg City Councilwoman Liz Zimmermann Keitt pointed to Steyer’s dedication to combating climate change and guaranteeing quality education for all as central reasons for her endorsement.

“As an educator, I’ve spent my career working to put young people on a path to success, but young people’s futures are endangered when our leaders fail to invest in education and take action to combat climate change,” said Keitt. “That’s why I’m standing with the only candidate who will make protecting our planet his number one issue and put our children's futures first, and I urge all South Carolinians to do the same.”

Milwaukee, WI immigration activist and community leader Norma Duckworth also formally endorsed Steyer, underscoring Tom’s commitment to passing humane immigration policies and leadership on condemning the current administration’s immigration policies.

“Tom was the only candidate on the December debate stage who denounced Trump’s immigration policies for what they are - racist,” said Duckworth. “Tom is the leader we need to undo Trump’s harmful policies. Tom has supported organizations that have represented more than a thousand immigrants and refugees, supported DACA applicants, and recruited thousands of volunteers to help along the way, including pro-bono lawyers, interpreters and mental health professionals. While other candidates talk about what they plan to do, Tom has been doing the work for years,” concluded Duckworth.

Today’s announcement continues the momentum produced by other recent early state endorsements. In December, liberal activist and former Iowa state lawmaker Ed Fallon announced his endorsement of Steyer. Subsequently, the Chicano Latino Immigrant Democratic Club of Los Angeles County’s voted to formally endorse the campaign, with the group’s President, Cesar Gamboa, also personally endorsing Steyer. These endorsements followed that of Carlos Alacala, the Chair of the Chicano Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party, who emphasized Steyer’s ability to go head to head with Trump in justifying his endorsement.

 

Tom Steyer Qualifies for Democratic National Committee Debate in January

Tom Steyer Qualifies for Debate and Cements Place as Top-Tier Candidate
Steyer surges to second place in South Carolina and third in Nevada

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 9, 2020) — Today, presidential candidate Tom Steyer cemented himself into the top tier of candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, officially qualifying for the Democratic National Committee debate in January.

Steyer secured qualification following polling showing Tom at 15% and 12% in South Carolina and Nevada, respectively. He is in second place in South Carolina and third place in Nevada. Last week, Steyer surpassed the DNC’s 225,000 unique donor threshold requirement for debate qualification.

“Voters are tired of business as usual and are responding to Tom’s fight to create real economic prosperity, tackle the climate crisis, and get Washington working for American families, not big corporations,” Campaign Manager Heather Hargreaves said. “We experience this momentum on the ground every day in the early states, and look forward to connecting with more Americans and growing this campaign in the weeks and months ahead. We are built to win, and have the candidate best prepared to take Donald Trump on over the economy and expose him.”

Conducted by Fox News between January 5 and 8, the most recent polls show Steyer surging to second place in South Carolina and tied for third place in Nevada. These results mark a decisive continuation of upward momentum for Steyer, following the most recent Morning Consult early state tracker which showed Steyer polling at 10%.

Steyer is the sixth candidate to qualify for the December debate. The DNC January debate will take place on January 14th in Des Moines, Iowa.

Tom Steyer Campaign Hires Jeff Berman as Senior Adviser

Tom Steyer Campaign Hires Jeff Berman as Senior Adviser

Berman spearheaded Obama’s 2008 delegate operation 

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 3, 2020) — Today, the Tom Steyer 2020 campaign announced that Jeff Berman is joining their team as a senior strategic adviser. One of the nation’s foremost experts on the Democratic presidential nomination process, Berman spearheaded President Barack Obama’s 2008 delegate operation. Berman also served in 2016 as a delegate strategist for Hillary Clinton, and most recently as a senior adviser for Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign.

Berman was a key difference-maker for Obama’s historic 2008 primary campaign, helping lead Obama's effort through the complex delegate landscape. Subsequently, Berman was elected to the Democratic National Committee and its important Rules Committee and two national DNC commissions to reform the Democratic presidential nominating process.

“Jeff is an instrumental force in presidential delegate strategy, and our campaign is very excited and fortunate to have him join our team,” said Campaign Manager Heather Hargreaves. “I look forward to working with him as we build our campaign to win the 2020 nomination.” 

“Tom is an accomplished business leader, committed to growing the economy while protecting our climate, and ensuring that prosperity is shared by all Americans,” said Jeff Berman. “As Tom campaigns on these powerful themes in the new year, voters and delegates will see him as the best candidate to take on Trump and beat him.”

Tom Steyer to Launch “People Over Profits” Iowa Bus Tour on January 1-5, 2020 **Updated

Tom Steyer to Launch “People Over Profits” Iowa Bus Tour **Updated
Steyer will make the case that he is the best candidate to go toe-to-toe with Trump on the economy.

(Des Moines, IA, Dec. 26) Presidential candidate for the Democratic nomination Tom Steyer will be starting the new year by traveling through fifteen counties in Iowa on his “People Over Profits” bus tour, starting in Council Bluffs and ending in Newton. Steyer was recently in Iowa City where he laid out his economic agenda to leverage his decades of experience building a successful business from the ground up and understanding global markets coupled with his success taking on corporate power at the ballot box to reform our system of unchecked capitalism and create nationwide prosperity.

This bus tour is about talking with Iowans about their economic frustrations and future. Steyer will lay out how we can revitalize the rural economy, organize together to take on the corporations that have bought the government, ensure economic justice by undoing the purposeful exclusion of communities of color from wealth building, and build a green economy that saves the planet and creates well paying union jobs. Iowan and senior advisor to the Steyer campaign, Zack Davis said this about the bus tour:

“Tom has demonstrated time and time again that he is ready to take on the tough fights that lay ahead. Whether its giving rural communities the tools they need to lead on climate or creating a green economy that revitalizes whole communities while saving the planet, Tom has unmatched experience, success, and passion on creating an economy that works for all people. Iowans are sick of a fake businessman who has gone back on too many promises and ruined too many livelihoods. Throughout this tour, Tom will engage directly with Iowans, meeting them where they are, and demonstrating that the way to break the corporate stranglehold on our democracy is to put people over profits.”

(Des Moines, Dec. 31) Democratic candidate for president, Tom Steyer, is starting the New Year with his ‘People Over Profits’ bus tour. He will be making the case to Iowans that he is the best candidate to go toe-to-toe with Trump over the economy.

Council Bluffs Town Hall

When: January 1
Program Starts: 6:15pm

Where: The Gathering Room
1900 Madison Ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Meet and Greet with Tom in Logan

When: January 2
Program Starts: 9:00 am

Where: The Sparkle Room
112 S 4th Ave,
Logan, IA 51546

Food Deserts in Rural Iowa: Press Only Event

When: January 2
Program Starts: 11:20 am

Where: Heartland Market
503 West St
Manning, IA 51455

Community Conversation with Tom in Onawa

When: January 2
Program Starts: 2:10pm

Where: Onawa Public Library - Genealogy Room - 1st Floor
707 Iowa Ave,
Onawa, IA 51040

Town Hall in Sioux City

When: January 2
Program Starts: 6:00pm

Where: Sioux City Convention Center, Lobby
801 4th St,
Sioux City, IA 51101

Meet and Greet with Tom in Sheldon

When: January 3
Program Starts: 9:00am

Where: Cook’s Cafe,
207 8th St,
Sheldon, IA 51201

Spirit Lake Office Opening with Tom

When: January 3
Program Starts: 11:30am

Where: TeamTom Office
605 Lake St. Unit 4
Spirit Lake, IA 51360

Meet and Greet with Tom in Algona

When: January 3
Program Starts: 3:45pm

Where: Water’s Edge Nature Center, Nature Center Meeting Room
1010 250th St,
Algona, IA 50511

Town Hall in Fort Dodge

When: January 3
Program Starts: 6:00pm

Where: ShinyTop Brewing,
520 Central Ave,
Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Meet and Greet with Tom in Hampton

When: January 4
Program Starts: 9:00am

Where: Rustic Brew,
117 1st St NW,
Hampton, IA 50441

Town Hall in Mason City

When: January 4
Program Starts: 11:00am

Where: Charles H. MacNider Art Museum,
303 2nd St SE,
Mason City, Iowa 50401

Meet and Greet with Tom in New Hampton

When: January 4
Program Starts: 1:30pm

Where: Klunder's Kafe
929 W Milwaukee St
New Hampton, IA 50659

Town Hall in Waterloo

When: January 4
Program Starts: 6:00pm

Where: Grout Museum,
503 South St
Waterloo, IA 50701

Meet and Greet with Tom in Marshalltown

When: January 5
Program Starts: 1:30pm

Where: La Carreta Mexican Grill
308 Iowa Ave E
Marshalltown, IA 50158

Town Hall in Newton

When: January 5
Program Starts: 6:00pm

Where: Legacy Hall
403 W 4th St N
Newton, IA 50208

 

Tom Steyer Campaign Names Zack Davis as Senior Adviser

Steyer Campaign Names Zack Davis as Senior Adviser
A native Iowan, Davis recently served as the state’s Senior Adviser to the Harris campaign

(Des Moines, IA, Dec 19) — Today, the Tom Steyer campaign announced Zack Davis is joining the campaign as a Senior Adviser for Battleground States. Most recently, Davis served as lowa senior adviser for Senator Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Before that, Davis served as state director for Let America Vote and Iowa state director for NextGen Climate in 2016. Davis also worked for Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 Iowa campaigns.
 "Zack is a top political mind and an Iowa expert, and the campaign is lucky to have him,” said Campaign Manager Heather Hargreaves. “I'm looking forward to working with him and the entire battleground team as we continue to grow in Iowa and across the country.”

“I’ve seen firsthand Tom’s dedication to tackling the climate crisis and lifting up the voices of Americans all across this country, and I am thrilled to be joining his campaign,” said Davis. “As we hit the final sprint before the Iowa caucuses, I know Tom’s message of ending the corporate takeover of our government and bringing democracy back to the American people will continue to resonate with voters who see him as the best candidate to go up against Trump and beat him.”