Photos of the year: Politics in Iowa

It's fun to look for quiet, behind-the-scenes moments at campaign events, which can be quite theatrical in nature, so it was pure luck when I walked into this public pavilion and saw a man steaming the flags that would no doubt become the background for countless photo ops later on. Kirk Klamerus of Springville steams flags before Rep. Beto O'Rourke (TX–16) speaks to Iowans at City Park in Tipton on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Democratic presidential candidate businessman Tom Steyer addresses a small crowd for a speech on economic policy live-streamed nationally during a campaign event at Merge in Iowa City on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. When covering politics I work my hardest to try and show something that gets to an essence of the candidate or campaign that an audience member may not get to see from their vantage point. Usually, of course, I am not allowed backstage or anywhere that gives you a behind-the-scenes view. In this case, 'backstage,' was so obvious I walked right by it and into the room at first. It wasn't until about 15 minutes into the candidate's speech that I realized I'd initially walked right by the full production crew, including a woman operating his teleprompter at the end of a table. After a couple minutes of waiting for others walking by to move and make for a clear shot, I made an image of this moment, where Steyer is talking about his plans for investment in the American people. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

As the swearing-in ceremony for Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg began, the officials were announced one by one and I was positioned at the base of the stage. We always seek to capture candid moments, and this one between parents and kids was especially sweet during an otherwise serious event. Lauren Gregg hugs her mother, Cari Gregg, as Jackson Gregg runs to find his seat before their father Adam Gregg is sworn in as lieutenant governor during the inaugural swearing-in ceremony for Gov. Kim Reynolds at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

I like finding quiet moments out of the seeming chaos that is the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Hall of Fame celebration. There is so much energy that I could feel walking along First Avenue as supporters from various candidates cheered and waved signs trying to attract the attention of motorists. A supporter of Democratic candidate Cory Booker uses a campaign sign to shade himself from the sun along First Avenue near the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sen. Chuck Grassley answers a question at a town hall meeting at the public library in Anamosa on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Grassley answered questions on topics ranging from trade to immigration and social security. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Maggie Kpongo of Cedar Rapids votes as her daughter, Abigail Mwaluke, 3, plays among the voting booths at the precinct 32 polling place at Calvary Bapstist Church in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Kpongo, who grew up in Belgium, recently became a U.S. citizen and voted for the first time in this election. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Iowa City council candidate Janice Weiner holds her granddaughter, Alaska, 2, while being interviewed by local media after finding out she's won her election during an election results watch party at Big Grove in Iowa City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Parade goers watch as Vice President Joe Biden greets the crowd at a Fourth of July parade in Independence on Thursday, July 4, 2019. Candidates walked with the Buchanan County Democrats and greeted parade-goers along the route with handshakes and candy. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Vice President Joe Biden talks about mental health and criminal justice reform with Leslie Carpenter of Iowa City at a Fourth of July parade in Independence on Thursday, July 4, 2019. Candidates walked with the Buchanan County Democrats and greeted parade-goers along the route with handshakes and candy. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Royceann Porter, Teamsters Local 238 member, Johnson County Supervisor and President of the Corridor Temp Workers Co-op, holds up a fist after announcing the co-ops starting wage during a forum with presidential candidate and senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at the Midwest School for Women Workers at Hilton Garden Inn in Iowa City on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Klobuchar (D-Minn.) each joined discussions with women workers during a forum at the annual conference. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) takes the stage to audience applause during the Teamsters Presidential Candidate Forum at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democratic presidential hopeful, speaks to a group of guests at her Solon Coffee and Toffee House Party on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Iowa Sen. Dan Zumbach leads a prayer as Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst clasp hands during a fundraiser hosted by the Iowa GOP at the Hughes Family Barn in southwest Cedar Rapids on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Deval Patrick greets a customer while ordering pastries, including a plate of kolaches, with Iowa Sen. Rob Hogg at Sykora Bakery in the Czech Village neighborhood of Cedar Rapids on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Patrick, who entered the race for Democrats' 2020 presidential nomination last week, toured areas that flooded in 2008. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks to a crowd of over 600 supporters during a town hall at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City, marking her 82nd event in the state, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Democratic Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke greets people waiting outside at Sing-A-Long Bar and Grill in Mount Vernon on Friday, March 15, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Jon Dornbusch (from left), Jacy Ahmed and Mohamed Ahmed, all of Cedar Rapids, hold letters spelling 'Joe' during a campaign stop by former Vice President Joe Biden at Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Biden is making his first visit to Iowa after announcing his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Biden is making his first visit to Iowa after announcing his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids city council member Dale Todd (left) shows New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker around exhibits at the African American Museum of Iowa, 55 12th Avenue SE, during a stop on his Iowa Rise Tour of the state in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A supporter of Democratic Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar plays a trumpet along First Avenue near the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Riders, including Cedar Rapids City Council member Scott Olson (right), ride in the Fourth Avenue SE bike lane while trying out the new Veoride e-bikes during the launch of the new bike share in Greene Square in Cedar Rapids on Monday, May 13, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Angie Weiland (right) holds a sign as she protests with other demonstrators the detention of children at the Mexico/United States border near the Cedar Rapids Public Library where Sen. Joni Ernst was attending a ceremony in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 30, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Karamo Brown laughs as he dances with Angelica Ross on stage during the LGBTQ Presidential Forum at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Sen. Kamala Harris laughs at a joke as she enters the house during a women's tea with Sen. Harris at the home of Betsy Kutter in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Harris has maintained throughout her campaign that all issues are women's issues. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Sen. Kamala Harris talks with area education and childcare leaders during a Caucus For Kids campaign event at the Cedar Rapids Education Association in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. Caucus for Kids is a project of the Children's Policy Coalition, which has invited presidential candidates to answer questions about education, childcare, and family and economic issues affecting children. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Sen. Bernie Sanders greets people after his speech during a campaign rally on the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Pieter Breitner of Coralville sits in the front row while waiting to hear Sen. Elizabeth Warren speak during a town hall at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) cheers to the crowd as he exits the stage after speaking during the Teamsters Presidential Candidate Forum at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)

Jason Snell, co-leader of Sunrise Cedar Rapids, arranges a sign before a march from the New Bohemia district to city hall in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. People marched in support of a call by Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker and U.S. Senate candidate Kimberly Graham for a climate crisis declaration. Climate 'strikes' took place around the globe Friday in order to draw attention to the earth's changing climate and its effects on humans and the environment. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

People walk during a march from the New Bohemia district to city hall in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. People marched in support of a call by Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker and U.S. Senate candidate Kimberly Graham for a climate crisis declaration. Climate 'strikes' took place around the globe Friday in order to draw attention to the earth's changing climate and its effects on humans and the environment. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg plays keyboards at a picnic at Greene Square in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker takes a selfie photo with Samantha Gist of Oxford, Iowa, during a stop on his Iowa Rise Tour of the state at the African American Museum of Iowa, 55 12th Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Gavin is adorned with Amy for America stickers during Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar's bus tour kick-off event at NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Renee Kooker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, smiles as she listens to Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar speak during Klobuchar's bus tour kick-off event at NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

XXXX along First Avenue near the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)