Democratic Candidate Sarah Garriott Says Iowa Leadership Lacks Diversity

Garriott Critiques Iowa’s Leadership Diversity

Senator Sarah Trone Garriott from Iowa has publicly criticized the state’s leadership for being overly white, Christian, and masculine.

Currently running for Congress, Garriott, who is a pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, made these remarks during a YouTube interview with Sebastian Onofre, a candidate for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. When asked about her motivation to pursue a federal office, she indicated her desire to diversify the leadership in Iowa.

“I just wanted to see different types of people in leadership roles,” Garriott stated. She mentioned being inspired by female friends who had taken the step to run for office. “I realized I was unhappy with some aspects of state government, and it didn’t seem right to expect someone else to change things. Maybe I should step up and make the changes I wanted to see.”

Garriott emphasized that Iowa’s leadership is “not a very diverse group,” noting it remains “predominantly white, predominantly Christian, predominantly older men.” She sees this as a significant chance to introduce diverse voices in leadership roles that better reflect the community.

Garriott has taken strong stances on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. When the Iowa Senate enacted a ban on DEI offices, staff, and programs in state government and public universities, she argued that this measure would “harm the state” and “effectively criminalize workforce enhancement efforts.”

During a speech at the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, she spoke against “white patriarchy,” attributing it to “masculine power, violence, and domination.” She linked this to the rise of Christian nationalism, referencing evangelist Billy Graham, who urged his community to foster relationships with their neighbors and ensure their voices are heard in government.

In her speech, Garriott claimed that the LGBT and transgender movements pose a challenge to the traditional notion of a “white, male, powerful person,” as they complicate the landscape and create ambiguity.

On social media, a tweet highlighted her remarks, noting that she criticized Iowa’s House of Representatives for being “mostly Christian.”

Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft described Garriott as a “woke warrior.” He commented on her career trajectory, saying, “From bashing white men to leading the charge against taxpayer spending on DEI in the Iowa Senate, she built a career as a woke warrior. However, it’s ironic for her, a white, Christian pastor, to advocate for more ‘diverse’ candidates while not stepping aside herself.” He asserted that Iowans would disregard her radical leftist ideas.