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Troy Price is combining realism with optimism as he assumes leadership of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Price was elected July 22 as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. He arrives on the job later than usual he is replacing Derek Eadon, who was elected in January but was forced to step aside due to health reasons.

The Iowa Democratic Partys leader, whomever it was going to be, was to face a daunting task regardless of starting date. Iowa Democrats are trying to rebound after consecutive disastrous elections in 2014 and 2016.

Price gets the additional hurdle of starting on the job a half-year later than usual.

I visited with Price last week, and during a 25-minute interview he was realistic about the challenges he faces but also optimistic about the opportunity Democrats have in the 2018 election.

Theres a lot to get done. I would say that our party infrastructure is not where it needs to be right now, Price said, adding later, The timing piece of it is a challenge. Theres no question about that. Were jumping in in the middle of this thing.

But Ill say this: Im confident we can get this work done because Ive seen how hard our activists are working out there. Ive seen how hard our party is working, Price said. Ive seen all this great energy and activism out there. Weve got a lot of people who want to get to work.

Price does not come into the job blind. He is a former executive director of the state party.

He said his first two tasks in the state party job were to strengthen the party infrastructure and to develop a message the party can offer to voters in 2018.

The latter will be important as Democrats try to learn from their 2016 losses. One common criticism, from within the party and out, is Democrats did not have a message that resonated with voters.

The message of the party is fractured and has been over the last few cycles, Price said. We have focused way too much on specific tactics or specific issue messages, not necessarily focusing on the overall message: Why it is that people should vote for the Democratic Party? Why it is that we deserve to be in government?

People dont believe that we have their back. We have to do a better job of that, and we have to go out there and develop this message that says were going to fight for you, we have always fought for you, and we will be there to fight for you in government. So give us a chance to do that.

Iowa Democratic candidates in 2018 will use the 2017 legislative session as a rallying cry against Republicans. The GOP-led Legislature and governor approved conservative legislation on public employee collective bargaining, workers compensation laws, voter ID requirements and funding for prenatal health care provider Planned Parenthood, among other things.

But Price said Democrats must avoid focusing too much on railing against their opponents without offering their own vision.

That remains a frequent criticism of Hillary Clintons unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign: The Clinton campaign focused too much on trying to tell voters why they felt Republican candidate Donald Trump was a bad choice.

We have to give them a reason to vote, Price said. Its easy for us just to fall into the trap of, Were not as bad as those guys, so give us a chance. Well, that is not a winning message. We need to give people a reason to believe in what the Democratic Party stands for and that were going to have their back.

The 2018 election is critical for Iowa Democrats. It is their next opportunity to reverse the tide that has swept them in the past two elections. And with a victory in the race for governor or, less likely, enough victories in the Iowa House or Senate races they can limit Republicans full control of the state lawmaking agenda to just two years.

It is a big challenge for the party, and a big challenge for Price. I asked him why he ran for state party chairman, why he wanted to face that challenge. I reminded him hes been around long enough he knew well what he was getting into, and asked why he did.

He chuckled and paused briefly.

I got into this because I believe in this party and I believe in the future of our party, he said. I have been very frustrated with where our party has ended up in recent years. Ive seen it from both sides, both as executive director of the party and also working for candidates and also ... from the nonprofit, progressive side.

So Ive seen the challenges that this party faces. And Ive watched as the party has faced even greater challenges as the years have gone by in recent years. I want to do my part to help reverse that tide and to help grow the party in the way it needs to go.

Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. Email him atis erin.murphy@lee.net

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Democrats' new leader braces for challenges - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier