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Its been fourand ahalf months since they suffered devastating losses at the polls, but party leaders said Saturday night at the Scott County Democratic Partys Red, White and Blue fundraising dinner theyre determined to turn things around next year.

About 250 people turned out for the fundraiser at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

Much of the evening was spent lambasting Republicans who are in control of government in Washington, D.C., and Des Moines. Citing proposals to kill the Affordable Care Act to a voter identification bill in Iowa, Democratic leaders urged activists to organize and fight back.

We have to stop this nonsense, said Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, the only Democrat in Iowas congressional delegation.

Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who just formed a group to advocate elimination of the Electoral College, told the crowd that it was time for a new voting rights act.

Some Democrats have called for changing how the nation votes for president after President Donald Trump won the presidency but lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Feingold acknowledged Saturday the Electoral College puts a spotlight on smaller states like Iowa and Wisconsin, but he asked, hows that working out for us? Not so well.

Democrats did some celebrating at the dinner. A number of speakers noted the failure Friday of House Republicans to get a bill passed repealing the Affordable Care Act.

What a great victory for democracy, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said.

Still, Democrats are in a state of transition in the aftermath of last year's losses. The Iowa Democratic Party has a new chair. So does the Democratic National Committee, having just chosen Tom Perez.

DNC Vice Chairman Michael Blake was the evenings keynote speaker. Blake, who worked for former President Barack Obama in Iowa during the 2008 cycle, said beforehand the party is dedicated to work with Iowans and not just during presidential elections.

"We recognize if you want to have real success, you cant just be here for presidential elections, you cant just be here for the caucus, you have to be here all the time," he said.

A handful of Democrats who are being mentioned as possible candidates for governor also were on hand, including State Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, state Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, Jon Neiderbach, a former school board president from Des Moines, and former Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire of Des Moines.

Prichard, who grew up in Davenport, announced last Thursday hes formed an exploratory committee. Neiderbach already has said he's running.

They spoke later into the evening.

Davenport Alderman Mike Matson, who represents the city's 7th Ward, also said Saturday that he is considering running for governor. Beforehand, Matson said his experience at City Hall, in the military and in education would be a plus. I think I would be a good leader, he said.

Matson said he could make a decision whether to run by the end of summer.

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Democrats determined for 2018 | Government and Politics | qctimes ... - Quad City Times