Campaigns

The Iowa State Fair in Photos

The best of the fair from Roll Call photojournalist Caroline Brehman

John Olsen from Des Moines, Iowa wears a vest with Joe Biden for President buttons as he listens to Biden speaks on the first day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
John Olsen from Des Moines, Iowa wears a vest with Joe Biden for President buttons as he listens to Biden speaks on the first day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
By Bill Clark
Posted August 19, 2019 at 2:16pm

With more than 20 Democrats running for president, this year’s Iowa State Fair became the center of the political universe for a week and a half. Now that it’s all over, we take a look back at the best photos from Roll Call photojournalist Caroline Brehman.

 

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 8: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks with Ruth Burrows at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Thursday August 8, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Former Vice President Joe Biden stops to speak with Ruth Burrows at the fair. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 9: A fairgoer waits for Democratic presidential candidate and former Housing Secretary Julian Castro to speak at the Iowa State Fair on Friday August 9, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A Julian Castro supporter waits for the former HUD Secretary to speak at the Des Moines Register Soapbox on August 9th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 10: Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann, left, stands at the GOP booth inside the Varied Industries building at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 10, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Republicans were also in attendance at the Iowa State Fair. Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann, left, stands at the GOP booth inside the Varied Industries Building at the fair on August 10th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
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UNITED STATES - AUGUST 10: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., takes a bite of a pork chop at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 10, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
If you don’t have food on a stick at the Iowa State Fair, you’re doing it wrong. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., takes a bite of a pork chop on a stick on August 10th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 10: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., high fives a fairgoer at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 10, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., high fives a fairgoer as she works the crowd at the Iowa State Fair on August 10th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 10: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., rides the ferris wheel at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 10, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., rides the Ferris wheel at the fair on August 10th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 12: Iowa State Fair mascots walk by the Administration Building at the Iowa State Fair on Monday August 12, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
The Iowa State Fair has mascots. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 16: A fairgoer casts his kernel of corn at the
A fairgoer casts his kernel of corn at the WHO-TV “Cast Your Kernel” poll at the fair on August 16th. According to the WHO-TV’s web site, Joe Biden won with 25% of the kernels cast for Democrats, with South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg coming in second place with 18%. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 16: People dressed up as Elvis Presley walk around at the Iowa State Fair on Friday August 16, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
People dressed as Elvis Presley walk around at the Iowa State Fair on Friday night August 16th, the anniversary of Elvis’ death. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 17: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, pours waters at the Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 17, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, pours waters at the Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair on August 17th. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 17: This year’s butter cow and butter Sesame Street characters are on display at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday August 17, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
What would the Iowa State Fair be without the butter cow? This year’s butter cow display included butter Sesame Street characters. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 18: A fairgoer competes in the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday August 18, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
The competition was tough and muddy during the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition on Sunday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 18: A fairgoer stands with his first place trophy after competition in the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday August 18, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A boy stands with his first-place trophy after winning the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition at the Iowa State Fair on the final day of the fair. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)