[applause] please welcome our county chair. Hello, iowa. Fellow democrats from across america. All 50 states of america, welcome to polk county. Celebration for our Democratic Party. Together, we will get to meet 17 candidates who are leading a conversation about the future of our party and our country. One of these 17 people will be our next president. They say bad weather brings good luck, and it rained like heck at last years steak fry, and then we won back the congress. I hope the weather we have today is going to win us back the white house next year. Before we get started, please join me in welcoming the elected officials and candidates who are here today. Usually, we read all their names at our events, but obviously this is a little bit eager, so we are not going to go through all hundred of them. Please join me in welcoming them here today. Welcoming join me in five of our newer steak fry leaders. Lindsay paulson and peter crane are our steak fry chairs. Our executive director is judy downs. Our incredible advisor. Has been inwho charge of our security, john halbrook. He ditched us, folks. The event basically took three years to plan, and it would not have been possible without them and are hundreds of volunteers. Thank you so much for putting this event together. Report this is not even bluff numbers. I am pleased to report that we here12,242 democrats today. 12,200 12242, that officially means this is the biggest steak fry in American History. In addition to all 50 states, we welcome folks from as far away as canada, germany, japan, and sweden. Welcome to all our international visitors. Today,y as important as when so much of our conversation will be about our future, it seems absurd to talk about the really dark days that we had in 2016 for america. But you cannot know where you are going if you dont know where your coming from. Shock whenwere in donald trump was declared the winner of the 2016 election. Ouround democrats and Democratic Party in pieces. We had a bruising family part family fight in this party. Our organizers and volunteers were disillusioned. 99iowa alone, half of our county chairs turned over that year. Any counties, including our own county party here in polk, were basically bankrupt. All we could do was band together. When trump proposed his muslim ban, we rallied at the airport. When trump had his bizarre inaugural, the women of america marched in response. Our meeting swelled. It is still 125 people at least. Taught us the hard lesson that elections and voting are just as important as we democrats always said they were. Without donald trump, it could have been years before we saw women, people of color, and young people standing up for the leadership positions and the party they deserve. In 2018, in polk county alone, half of our nominees for office were women for the first time ever. Without donald trump, we would not have 17 of the brightest democrats in the country running for the highest office in the land. Without donald trump, this steak fry would not exist. It would have never been revived. This event did not even exist in 2016. Look at us now. In many ways, the revived event microcosm of our Democratic Party that was reborn after 2016. We had a bunch of scrappy faces, both young and old, step up in our county party. I asked tom harkin for permission to bring this event back for more than a year. I think he finally got sick of me asking and he finally agreed. Starte did so, we had to this whole thing from scratch. We did not pay any fancy consultants or Event Management companies. Isrything you see here today by and for the work of our volunteers. So at 17 candidates, 12,242 people, 10 rallies, eight marches, 350 reporters from around the world, two bands, one band, three food trucks, three ice cream trucks, nine grills, 300 volunteers, two campouts that really happened, and one giant flag that is actually made in the United States of america [applause] craig and i am almost done, i and i am almost done, i promise. If you want to contrast the Democratic Party and our friends who are struggling on the republican side, if you really want to contrast who we are, i would urge you to take a look at the annual republican fundraiser that is happening tonight here in des moines, over at the fairground, with karen pence. For the 300 reporters today, i thank you. Please go over to karen pences event and contrast of the crowd sizes and the energy that you will have. Lot less energy over there. That is their problem. We haveh the weather today, energy is not a problem we have for the Democratic Party. The people in that room and they are in a room. Unlike us. Roof, they will look a lot more alike than we do. Even though they look more alike, this will show you that when we all Work Together, we are bigger and stronger than they are, every single time. And again, that audience is going to be much smaller. I dont think they even have a tops out above 100 when he people. We have become a machine. Have four more seats in polk county alone. All of those are women. We helped elect cindy axne need a college to congress, one of the first two women elected to the house of congress from iowa. Marchesbeat the largest in history, even beating barack obama in 2012. 2020 begins tomorrow. Usually, we stay away from city council and school board races. As you saw with our pledge today, those are our races Going Forward. We will not give up on any races, whether it is dog catcher or president , at the Democratic Party, Going Forward. We will also be planning the most inclusive, transparent caucuses and i was history. We know our first in the nation status depends on that. The legislature includes republican tom snyders seat. You saw four of his opponents here today. We are going to beat some joni ernst. That was the applause line of the day. And we are going to get cindy axne he reelected. , weif we work hard enough can return iowa to the Democratic Party for the white house. We were the first state we were the first state to vote for thensenator barack obama, who got his first big start at the steak fry itself. We elected him twice as president , and next year iowa will be voting for a democrat again. Be known that donald trump, trumpism, and his merry band of grifters were an aberration of american politics, and not who we are as iowans or as americans. And i dont know anybody who better exemplifies all of that in our next speaker today. Cindy axne he is a fifthgeneration iowan, a Small Business owner, a parent, and a community advocate. She was a candidate at the steak fry for the last two years. She will be the only person other than me that will be on stage all of the last three years. We are immensely proud that she is our congresswoman for the third district. Since being elected, she has stood up for family farmers impacted by the trade war. Last week, she made headlines by opposing a funding bill that excluded really for farmers. She fought to Lower Health Care and Prescription Drug costs, and maintain protections for individuals with preexisting conditions. She has visited all of the districts 16 counties every month since she has been elected. In short, she was just the type of congresswoman that she promised to be, and that we hoped for. Police joined me in welcoming our pride, our congresswoman cindy axne a. Cindy axne a. Axne. [applause] rep. Axne hello, polk county democrats. And democrats from across the great state of iowa and all of you traveling from across the country today. How is everybody doing . Honored to serve as the congresswoman from i was third district. District full of incredible people who last year pitched in to make sure that i flipped a seat that nobody thought we could win, to send me to the house, to turn the house blue. It is that Iowa Democratic pride that turned out folks to make sure that not just one, but two women, were elected to congress from the great state of iowa. And guess what . We are going to flip the white house next year, arent we . Out toive a big shout sean and the polk county democrats for putting the steak fry on the map again. Ran for this seat, i said i would be a voice for all iowans, and that is why i pledged to visit all of my 16 counties every month and my first year of office. I have held over 40 town halls and public events. That is why i was named the most accessible freshman member of congress by the townhall project. Held verbal health care tours, and i have visited urban health care providers. I get that information back to d. C. And get to work on policy to help Rural Health Care folks get the doctors that they need, to make sure we protect iowans from surprise billing that is bankrupting us, and lower the cost of Prescription Drugs, because i have heard from too from toons who many iowans who cannot afford it, including a des moines mom who has to work two jobs just to buy the pharmaceutical she needs for her daughter. I have spoken with hardworking families who cannot make ends meet. We need to create more good paying jobs, but we also need to make sure that people have the skills they need to compete in todays economy. In congress, i have cosponsored legislation that increases trade and apprenticeship programs. Shout out to our unions right now, everybody. Our brothersy for and sisters fighting with the united auto workers. I have introduced legislation to hold business accountable for creating jobs right here in america, instead of outsourcing those jobs overseas. They promise that our republican president cant seem to hold, but one we democrats absolutely stand behind. And speaking of broken promises, as the president had his finger on issuing more ethanol waivers to put more money in the pockets of big oil, at the expense of hardworking iowa farmers, i stood up against the administration, and opened investigation into the epa, to stop this horrible mess that is happening to our economy here. You know what . Unlike trump, i care about iowa farmers. He continues to put more money in the pockets of big oil, i will keep standing up for the hardworking people here in iowas third congressional district. And when iowans were affected by the flood, they left their homes without shoes on their feet, or an extra change of clothes. Worthht to get 3 billion of aid. That is 1. 4 billion they were able to get in the senate. That is what this freshman congresswoman does. With my democratic colleagues, we will continue to fight for people across the country. Through legislation that takes dark money out of politics, make sure we address voters and build trust for the people, back to congress. By giving lgbtq people their godgiven rights, bypassing the equality app. By finally passing equal pay for women. Climate change to the Climate Change now act. And passing common sense gun legislation. Ok to hear from a West Des Moines mom whose threeyearold daughter had to practice active shooting drills on her first day of preschool. Hundreds of bills to help people in this country, to make a stronger, and to unify us. But that is not who we are only. We are making sure that we put country over party, unlike our republican parties on the others of the aisle. We know that people come first. We have been and we will always be the party that looks out for regular folks, because just like my parents taught me and my sisters, who are here today they said, girls, make sure that you help your friends and family, but help strangers alike. When everybody does well, our community thrives. You, i am here to tell 20 20 is not going to be easy. We have to do what we did in 2018 a vengeance, and when it was pouring rain the saturday before the election, there were lines of volunteers out the door to pick up packets to knock on a few more doors. Thats right. Hardworking, tireless iowans we are. Those are the kind of hardworking, tireless iowans i know will reelect me to congress. Help flip the senate seat. And make sure that one of these exceptional candidates eats donald trump. Beats donald trump. [applause] rep. Axne we all know there is so much at stake, so lets get to work, for the third district, for the great state of iowa, for our country. Lets win this. God bless america. [applause] our last speaker before we turn it over to the main stage of folks who were waiting to hear is congresswoman grace meng, who represents new congressional district. Unamerican whose belief everyone deserves to be heard led her into Public Service, first in the new york assembly, and now in the United States congress. Grace has been rated one of the most effective representatives of the house, and is a leading voice on food safety, clean water, and consumer protection. Grace is an elected vice chair of the dnc, and she oversees the table that overseas at the table, which supports minority women candidates. Lets give congresswoman grace meng a warm iowa welcome. [applause] rep. Meng good afternoon, i would. I am thrilled to be here with all of you today. My family came here with me today, and it did not take much convincing. Take to do was say tickets wereour booked. Our barbecues in new york city are a little bit smaller than this. Thank you to my friend cindy, amazing rising star, your fighter in congress. Thank you so much for your work and your kind introduction. Clap for cindy. Get us back the majority. Sean,you to our chairman, the democrats, the staffers and volunteers who made this incredible event possible. Lets give them around of applause. This is not my first time in des moines. In fact, i came to visit about two years ago, and was so impressed with what i saw. No, i am not just talking about your famous butter cow at the state fair, although many kids in new york city have probably never seen a real cow, much less a butter one. But when i had visited, it was soon after the 2016 election. Our hearts were broken, and i had come to see what i could offer. The truth is you comforted me, because i got to witness the amazing work you have all been doing uplifting people of and communities up for years. I had met with the asian latino coalition, a group of about 500 plus members strong. They felt like their voices had not been heard. I toward the plumbers and steamfitters training center, where they are helping to expand and build our middle class. I visited urban dream center, where they are helping individuals get back on their feet. I visited a center devoted to youth become selfsufficient. And i met Democratic Women from , strong women who are fired up to organize and elect democrats in 2018. And guess what . Democrats didnt win in iowa. Democrats did win in iowa. We welcomed cindy and abby to congress. And you elected a democrat statewide. Yes, there are many reasons to celebrate, but i know that you are here, like me today, because you are fired up to elect our next democratic president. You showed the country that democrats can compete and win in iowa, and we are going to do it again in 2020. Chairman tom perez says we have 418 weekdays until the weekend, and he is right. The dnc is your partner in this fight. We know the road to the white house begins in iowa. And we know that there are no more off years. We are investing in Rural Communities, suburban communities, communities of color. Trust,ans restoring strengthening our infrastructure, and organizing in iowa. We are recruiting candidates in every zip code, and we had a democratic candidate in almost every state legislative District Across the state last year. Good job. You have shown me and the nation that when we lead from the heart, we win. Our heartland is going to help heal our broken hearts in 2020. And we can bicker over which candidate is the best. But the truth is every single one of these candidates they have spent every weekend moment speaking of ways to right wrongs, to help make communities home whole again. Any of them would be better than the person in the white house today. Every one of our candidates know that no one in america should have to choose between putting food on their table or buying lifesaving medicine. Every one of our candidates knows that weakening the aca mean 170,000 iowans losing coverage, hurting iowans with preexisting conditions. Every one of our candidates has met with and no farmers who are suffering from trumps chaotic trade policy. And every candidate stands in solidarity with our uaw workers who have lost their health care through cruel gm policies. Whoever wins, we are going to help them defeat from. [cheers and applause] as we speak, the dnc is already training organizers in seven battleground states, including communities of color, who will stand ready to push our nominee to victory, whoever they may be. We are going to work with you to beat joni ernst and take back your senate. [applause] not only are we going to protect your three house seats, we are going to go after that fourth one. [cheers and applause] it begins here, right here in iowa. Lets show the country what we already know democrats can win in the heartland. [applause] thank you to each and every one of our candidates for running and the amazing work their teams are putting in. They know that diversity is our strength and that we are strongest when we are united and that is how we are going to win. Thank you for welcoming me and my family back to iowa. [applause] thank you for the work you are doing and will continue to do to elect democrats, and lets go win back our white house. [cheers and applause] [crowd chanting] real quick, before we start the introductions, we do have unfortunately a lost child in the audience. He is an africanamerican child, light gray tshirt, blue stars on the tshirt and a blue bucket hat and cargo shorts. His name is deshawn. If you see him, you notice we have a white tower tent directly behind checkin. You can take him over there or, deshawn, if you are around, if you want to head over there, your parents are looking for you. We will keep an eye out. Please keep your eyes around the crowd. He is five years old. Jumping into our program im sure we will figure it out and we are watching the gates, so no one will be getting out with us without us taking a look at it. Jumping into our program, beto orourke is a fourthgeneration texan born and raised in el paso where he served his community on the El Paso City Council