Campaign Almanac: Kelly and Giffords to headline Iowa Democrats’ fall fundraiser

DES MOINES — Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords, the married couple who have both served in Congress and champion gun safety laws, will give the keynote address at the Iowa Democratic Party’s annual fall fundraiser, the state party announced Tuesday.

Kelly is a U.S. Senator and Giffords is a former U.S. House member, both representing Arizona. He also is a former NASA astronaut and Navy combat veteran.

Giffords was shot in the head during a 2011 constituent event and has since been an advocate for gun violence prevention.

Kelly and Giffords will speak at IDP’s 2025 Liberty and Justice Celebration, which has been scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, at Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines.

“Together, Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords have dedicated their lives to serving the American people,” a state party press release said. “Together, they have turned their shared commitment into action, advocating tirelessly for common sense solutions that put country over partisanship.”

Tickets for the state party fundraiser are available to the public at secure.actblue.com/donate/lj2025.

Wettach commits to campaign finance reform

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Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Taylor Wettach has joined a national advocacy group’s push for campaign finance reform.

Wettach joined End Citizen United’s Unrig Washington Campaign, which is described in a press release as “a bold, public commitment to clean up Washington by supporting real anti-corruption reforms and leading by example.”

Wettach, a Muscatine attorney, is among three Democrats seeking their party’s nomination in the Eastern Iowa district. The others are Iowa City attorney and former state legislator Christina Bohannan, and University of Iowa Health Care worker Travis Terrell of Tiffin.

The district’s incumbent is Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who faces a primary challenge from David Pautsch, a Davenport prayer breakfast leader.

Candidates who join the Unrig Washington Campaign will, according to a press release, reject all campaign contributions from corporate PACs, and support legislation that bans members of Congress from trading individual stocks, increases transparency in political donating, and addresses the Federal Elections Commission.

In a statement, Wettach said he joined the group “to fix our democracy by getting big money out of politics.”

Union group endorses Konfrst

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Jennifer Konfrst’s campaign for Central Iowa’s 3rd District has been endorsed by Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33, her campaign announced. The Des Moines-based union represents workers in the plumbing, mechanical construction and service industries.

Konfrst, a state legislator from Windsor Heights, is among three Democrats seeking the party’s nomination to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn. The other 3rd District primary Democrats are Waukee state legislator Sarah Trone Garriott and Waukee internal communications and creative production worker Xavier Carrigan.

“Jennifer does more than just vote for labor and workers — she leads on our issues because being a working person is core to who she is,” Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 Business Manager Andy Roberts said in a press release from Konfrst’s campaign. “Whether it’s taking on corporate greed, fighting for collective bargaining rights, or protecting unemployment benefits, Jennifer has always stood firm and had our backs. She’s a working class Iowan who knows what it takes to get things done for us.”

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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