Tama County Republicans Heather Knebel (left) and Quincy Droigk pictured during the midterm caucus held at Gladbrook City Centre on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. During the precinct meeting, Knebel announced she plans to run for reelection this November for her seat on the Tama County Board of Supervisors. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

GLADBROOK – Tama County Republicans and Democrats caucused separately in several locations on the evening of Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, including at Gladbrook City Centre where half a dozen Republicans gathered to elect delegates for upcoming county and state conventions, submit party platform planks for consideration, and make pitches for their candidates of choice in the upcoming 2026 midterm election.

Registered Republicans from the precincts of Lincoln, Gladbrook, and Garwin were invited to attend at City Centre. Elsewhere in the county, Republicans gathered in Chelsea, Dysart, Traer, Tama, and Toledo, while Democrats caucused in just two locations, Traer and Tama.

“Everything went swimmingly! No problems reported from around the county,” Moe McWhirter, vice chair of the Tama County Republican Party Central Committee, told the newspaper via email Tuesday afternoon in regard to local GOP caucus meetings. “Turnout was light, although we expected that, as it is a non-presidential election year.”

Per McWhirter, about 10 people caucused in Traer, while the Dysart precinct meeting (including Buckingham) welcomed around 30 people. Similar turnout was seen throughout the county, he added. He estimated 100-120 people total attended GOP caucuses in Tama County Monday evening.

At Gladbrook City Centre, six local Republicans came together for their meeting led by Quincy Droigk and Tama County Supervisor Heather Knebel who were elected caucus chair and secretary, respectively.

Republicans caucus in Gladbrook at City Centre this past Monday evening. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

As part of the proceedings Monday night, Knebel – a rural Traer resident and the county’s first elected female supervisor in history – officially announced her plans to run for reelection this coming November. Knebel represents District 3 which includes the townships of Spring Creek, Crystal, Perry, and parts of far northern Carlton (excluding Garwin) and Howard.

In addition to Knebel’s announcement, speeches in Gladbrook were given by caucusgoers in support of two 2026 candidates – state Sen. Annette Sweeney (R-Iowa Falls) who is running for reelection to her seat which includes both Tama and Grundy counties and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) who is in a crowded five-member field for the GOP nomination.

Several caucus platform proposals were submitted by caucus chairman Droigk during the meeting, including one in support of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution by Article V Convention that would “prohibit ownership of American land and property by foreign nationals or entities.”

In nearby Traer, platform plank suggestions included “issues surrounding property tax reform, use of eminent domain to acquire easements for private pipelines, and future wind turbine construction,” McWhirter shared.

Democrats caucus

According to Berleen Wobeter with the Tama County Democrats, eight people caucused in Traer on Monday evening, while 30 “very engaged, concerned folks” caucused in Tama.

Per Wobeter, platform proposals at the Tama meeting included limiting and restricting the expansion and development of “hyper scale data centers for regenerative AI,” as well as proposals addressing “comprehensive immigration reform to secure border” that also create “fair and responsible pathways to citizenship,” and “restoration of full human rights for all including transgender people.”

“[T]he precinct caucus is the beginning and foundation of the decision making in the Democrat party,” Wobeter told the newspaper. “It may feel insignificant at the moment but everything else grows out of this first step.”

In a press release Tuesday morning, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart released the following statement: “Thank you to all our county parties and volunteers that made our 2026 caucuses a success. Based on early numbers, I am pleased to share that the Iowa Democrats had our best organizing caucuses since 2018, with plenty of our rural counties surpassing 2018 turnout. With the strongest Democratic ticket in a generation, special election over-performances in 2025, and tonight’s caucuses, Iowa Democrats have real momentum to turn the page on Kim Reynolds and Joni Ernst, and one-party rule in 2026.”