DES MOINES, Iowa — Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, brought her message of Midwest pragmatism to Iowa on Tuesday, positioning herself as a voice for the Democratic Party's future amid growing speculation about her potential run for president in 2028.
In a keynote address at the Polk County Democratic Party dinner, Slotkin emphasized the importance of Iowa's role in early presidential contests, urging attendees to scrutinize White House hopefuls beyond mere criticism of President Donald Trump. “You guys are Iowa,” she said. “You’re going to see every Tom, Dick and Harry candidate come through here, right? I want you to ask what their offensive plan is, their Project 2029. What is their value proposition that they’re going to offer to the American people that is going to offer an alternative to what Trump is doing, rather than just pointing at him and saying, ‘He’s bad, he’s bad, he’s bad, he’s bad’?”
Slotkin's visit capped a day filled with political engagements in the state, which held the Democrats' first presidential caucuses until 2020 and is now pushing to reclaim an early spot in the 2028 nominating process. The Michigan senator, who narrowly secured her Senate seat in the 2024 election, has been expanding her national profile through appearances in key battleground areas. Her travels have included stops in Pittsburgh and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as she seeks to build connections across the Midwest.
Earlier in the day, over lunch in the nearby town of Indianola, Slotkin joined a focus group organized by Majority Democrats, a group she's involved with to chart a new direction for the party. The session featured five participants — three women and two men — who identified as Trump voters and were paid $200 each for their time. Responding to an ad seeking open-minded potential swing voters, they shared their views on ideal presidential candidates during an informal discussion at a local eatery.
Slotkin, introducing herself simply as a senator from Michigan without immediately mentioning her party affiliation, engaged the group with questions ranging from casual to pointed. “What’s your hot take?” she asked twice, drawing out responses on topics like political frustration and candidate qualities. At one point, she posed a hypothetical: “If you could build a candidate in a test tube to be your ideal, what would that look like? How could someone say, ‘OK, I’m going to restore your faith’?”
The participants expressed a desire for a bold yet kind and genuine leader who acts independently rather than in lockstep with their party. One man, Ed Klavins, a retiree from Urbandale, voiced admiration for Democrats like political commentator Bill Maher and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. When asked what might have swayed them toward then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, the group highlighted her response in an interview where she struggled to name differences from President Joe Biden's approach. “I remember that exact moment,” Slotkin interjected, nodding in agreement.
After the lunch, Klavins told reporters he found Slotkin genuine. “I liked her,” he said, reflecting the kind of cross-aisle appeal the senator aims to cultivate. In a subsequent interview with NBC News, Slotkin reflected on Harris's campaign, noting, “But there were certainly certain ads and certain appearances that I remember, like, stopping in my tracks. And I remember that one, and I just said, ‘That’s not going to work.’” She avoided pinning the loss on a single factor, instead pointing to broader messaging challenges.
Later, in a private room at a craft beer bar near the State Capitol, Slotkin campaigned alongside state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat vying to flip a Republican-held congressional seat. The event centered on health care affordability, a key issue in the district. Slotkin highlighted her Midwestern roots, saying, “I feel a kinship with the rest of the Midwest. Us Midwestern Democrats need to stick together. It’s a tough thing to be a Midwestern Democrat, right?”
She added that the national party often overlooks the heartland until election time. “Sometimes,” Slotkin said, “the national party forgets about the middle of the country or forgets about us until the federal elections or national elections.” Addressing the crowd, which included Democrats, Republicans, and independents, she stressed unity despite political divides. “If you’re in this room, I don’t know if you’re a Democrat or a Republican or an independent, but we’re Midwesterners,” she remarked. “We know that our neighbors often vote differently than we do, right? ... My dad was a lifelong Republican, my mom a lifelong Democrat. It was totally normal when I was growing up to do that. We were more likely to fight Michigan versus Michigan State than Democrat versus Republican.”
To lighten the mood, Slotkin took a dramatic bow and cheered the Michigan Wolverines' victory in the NCAA men’s basketball championship the night before. “We’ll win it pretty, we’ll win it messy,” she said. “But we won it.” She then praised her co-host, calling Trone Garriott “another Midwestern badass woman in action.”
Trone Garriott, speaking to reporters after the event, underscored the significance of Slotkin's support. “It means a lot to me as a Democrat that has consistently won in Republican districts to have a Democrat that has consistently won in Republican districts to show up and support me,” she said. “People are upset with the political system as it is. They’re mad at both parties for good reason.”
Throughout her remarks at the dinner, Slotkin painted a picture of political turmoil under Trump, describing a “constant state of chaos and urgency.” She quipped to the audience, “Is there anyone else who, every couple of days, just needs to, like, check out and watch bad trash television?” Calling for Democrats to evolve, she argued that the old progressive-moderate divide is outdated. “You know, we used to talk about are you a progressive or are you a moderate,” Slotkin said. “That’s not the debate anymore. The debate is not between progressive and moderate. It’s fight or flight.”
She positioned herself firmly on the side of engagement. “There are plenty of people that I serve with who are on Team Flight,” she added. “And I will tell you that I am a good Midwestern Democrat. I fall more on the pragmatic and moderate side of the house, but I am on Team Fight 100%.” This stance comes amid Iowa's shift toward Republicans; the state, which backed President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, has supported Trump in the three elections since.
Slotkin's Iowa trip occurs against a backdrop of personal and political tension with Trump. Last year, the president accused her and other Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior” — “punishable by death,” in his words — after they released a video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders from the administration. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Defense Department official, received a bomb threat at her home following the accusation. Trump's Justice Department attempted but failed to secure indictments against her and her colleagues.
On Tuesday, Slotkin commented on Trump's earlier threat to launch a destructive attack on civilian infrastructure in Iran. “I just know,” she said, “as someone who literally made a video in November telling uniformed military that if they’re asked to do something illegal, they have a responsibility to push back, right, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice — we made that video for moments exactly like this.”
When pressed on her own ambitions for 2028, Slotkin responded coyly, acknowledging the buzz her visit generated. “You know, the minute you try and set foot in Iowa, the people kind of lose their minds a little bit,” she said, before reaffirming her focus on the Midwest and elevating Democrats in red districts. “If I can be a part of that change — and now I’m a senator, so I have a bigger opportunity to do that — I’m here for that,” she added. “I’m not announcing anything. There’s no big, you know, whatever, announcement to be made. But, yeah, do I want to be in that national conversation and push my own party to be better, because I like winning and I don’t like when people who try to destroy democracy are in the White House? Yeah.”
In a private interview, she elaborated further, emphasizing humility. “I’m literally not arrogant enough to think that I’m the only person who can do this,” Slotkin said. “If there was someone who I really felt had what it takes to win, I’d get behind that person. I’m a new senator. I’m new to this level of elected office. But if we get through the midterms and I don’t see it emerging from other leaders as they start to announce and people decide and don’t decide, you know, I wouldn’t rule it out. But there’s a long road before we get there.”
Slotkin's activities in Iowa signal a broader effort by Democrats to reclaim ground in the Midwest, a region that proved pivotal in recent elections. With the party still reeling from losses in 2024, her pragmatic approach and willingness to engage Trump supporters could help reshape strategies for 2028. As Iowa positions itself for an early role in the primary calendar, visits like hers are likely to intensify, drawing more potential candidates into the spotlight.