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Campaign Almanac: Democrats’ ads blame GOP policies for cookout costs over Labor Day weekend
Also in the notebook, a union group endorses Democratic Iowa attorney general candidate Nate Willems
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DES MOINES — Beer and burgers for cookouts cost more this Labor Day weekend and Republican policies are to blame, a new series of ads aired by Democrats claims.
The digital ads will run on YouTube and Instagram over the holiday weekend and will target men ages 18 to 44 in competitive U.S. House districts, according to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which produced the ads.
The ads — one video and one static — are part of a five-figure ad buy, said the DCCC, which is the campaign arm of U.S. House Democrats. The ads will run in the group’s 35 “districts in play,” which include Iowa’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd congressional districts.
The ads claim beef prices are up 28 percent and that the price of beer is “soaring,” and that federal Republicans’ policies are to blame. To complete the burger, the ad claims the costs of cheese, lettuce and bread also have increased.
The DCCC cites price increases since 2022 — which would include multiple years of Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration — and prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Both ads point viewers to the website houserepublicanpricehike.com, which includes the citations and a tool that allows users to calculate the cost of their Labor Day cookout.
“Labor Day is supposed to be a time to celebrate the contributions of the American worker and to relax with neighbors and families over a grill enjoying burgers and beer. But House Republicans are ruining everyone’s cookouts by making the trip to the grocery store more expensive,” DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a press release. “The DCCC is going to make sure voters know House Republicans are responsible.”
Iowa’s Republican U.S. House incumbents are Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District, Ashley Hinson in the 2nd and Zach Nunn in the 3rd. Multiple Democrats are campaigning in each of the three districts.
The 1st District is widely seen as a toss-up election by national forecasters, while the 3rd District as viewed as a toss-up or slightly favoring Nunn, the Republican incumbent. Most forecasters see the 2nd District as leaning or likely Republican.
Health care union endorses Democrat for Iowa attorney general
Democrat Nate Willems’ campaign for Iowa attorney general has been endorsed by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, Willems’ campaign announced.
The union represents thousands of health care workers, the campaign said.
Willems, a lawyer from Mount Vernon, is running to be the Democratic challenger to first-term Republican incumbent Attorney General Brenna Bird.
“Nate has worked closely with SEIU members on many issues over the years and has proven to be a reliable and unyielding advocate, helping our members to speak truth to power and get results,” SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa President Jamie Gulley said in a press release from the Willems campaign. “His critical work on the recent UIHC overtime lawsuit led not only to our members getting the pay they earned, but millions in damages for non-payment of wages.”
Zach Nunn ads highlight Republicans’ tax, spending bill
Two new ads from Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn feature testimonies in support of federal Republicans’ tax and spending law that cut individuals’ taxes and reduced future Medicaid spending.
Nunn is running for re-election in central Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Multiple Democrats are vying for the party’s nomination to challenge him in next year’s general election.
The first new ad features Sarah Curry, who testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of the federal legislation, according to the Nunn campaign. The second ad features Erika, an Ankeny server whose last name is not provided, who speaks in support of the law’s elimination of taxes on tips.
The ads will run digitally and on social media, the Nunn campaign said.
“Whether it’s families like the Currys investing in their kids’ futures or service workers like Erika keeping more of their hard-earned tips, the Big Beautiful Bill is delivering real relief,” Nunn said in a campaign press release. “These ideas came from Iowa families and workers who spoke up about what they needed most. We took those ideas to Washington and turned them into real wins for everyday Iowans.”
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