2020 Democrat Candidates Chow Down at Iowa State Fair

The campaign trail brought many 2020 Democrat candidates to the annual Iowa State Fair, but it was not all about stump speeches. The presidential hopefuls indulged in the event’s famous food fair, and there are videos and pictures to show for it.

The candidates were not shy about their favorite fair staples in Iowa.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) opted for a corn dog, posing for selfies with supporters with the treat in hand:

Multitasking at the Iowa State Fair: Elizabeth Warren posing for selfies and signing autographs while holding a corn dog pic.twitter.com/DcvzALNnto

— Thomas Kaplan (@thomaskaplan) August 10, 2019

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also chose the corn dog, describing it as “pretty good!”:

I have watched Bernie Sanders consume a corn dog. My Iowa State Fair experience is now complete. pic.twitter.com/jC0HYb71lE

— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) August 11, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) also went for the almighty corn dog and provided an in-depth commentary on his experience. He jokingly called it a “health food” because “it’s got corn”:

.@BilldeBlasio versus corn dog at the Iowa State Fair. LISTEN TO HIS RUNNING COMMENTARY!!! pic.twitter.com/lbVfr25Xs6

— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) August 12, 2019

Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) also opted for food on a stick, but not the infamous corn dog. Buttigieg went for a pork chop on a stick — a clear fair favorite:

And Mayor Pete Buttigieg gets his hands on the Iowa State Fair staple , the pork chop on a stick. pic.twitter.com/eC8oao0F3A

— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) August 13, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) also made her love of pork chops known, taking a bite and exclaiming, “Oh my God. I really like — it’s so good”:

Finally got my pork chop! pic.twitter.com/3LUSKorixU

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2019

Kamala Harris wore a white button down shirt, carried a clutch and ate unseasoned pork at the Iowa State Fair. If that is not strategy I don’t know what is. pic.twitter.com/q7JRvcVvuu

— Michelle Bhasin (@michellebhasin) August 11, 2019

Many wondered how Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a vegan, would navigate the meat-heavy fair staples, but he managed to get his hands on his own meatless greasy treat: A fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He described it as a “little slice of heaven”:

IOWA HURTS

(orig idea w/ guy fieri by @mayorwertz ) pic.twitter.com/pIdLbn4uix

— Ryan Middleton (@ryanmiddleton) August 12, 2019

Gov. Jay Inslee (D) went for a classic — soft serve ice cream. He reportedly said he hoped to be “the first presidential candidate to take a bite of every food in the state fair”:

Jay Inslee said he wanted to be the first candidate to take a bite of food from every stall at the fair. Hence an ice-cream cone at 10.30am. pic.twitter.com/Q2gS3Ro4jA

— Jon Fasman (@jonfasman) August 10, 2019

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) took a different route than her fellow candidates, opting for fried cheese curds:

Sen. @amyklobuchar bought her favorite fair food, cheese curds. Asked if they’re as good as Minnesota cheese curds she laughed and said “yes. What if I said no? Could be the end of me.” pic.twitter.com/YbGTt9pHp0

— Adam Brewster (@adam_brew) August 10, 2019

Bonus: John Delaney (D) enjoyed a nice breeze while going down the classic Iowa State Fair slide:

I hope John Delaney gets to go on the slide at the Iowa State Fair again pic.twitter.com/vI5Md3xS2a

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) August 9, 2019