Those of you lucky enough to have an hour and an internet signal starting at noon central time are in for a surprise potluck guest.
Mikki Williams. See description below the podcast notes.
Let’s get to know Sarah Trone Garriott, candidate for congress in the Third district that includes much of central Iowa, including Polk County.
Personal & Family Background
She grew up in Cloquet, Minnesota, daughter of a nurse and an auto mechanic. She originally wanted to be a fashion designer and always loved art, painting, and making things. To afford college, she lived at home, commuted to the College of St. Scholastica, worked 30 hours a week at Walmart, and finished a history degree in three years.
Path to Ministry & Chaplaincy
After graduating, she served in AmeriCorps VISTA in Gallup, New Mexico. Encountering religious questions led her to Harvard Divinity School, where she met her husband and future ministers. She served as a hospital chaplain in Philadelphia, then a pediatric chaplain at Children’s Memorial in Chicago while attending seminary at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She says chaplaincy taught her that leadership is about showing up in people’s worst moments.
Parish Ministry & Move to Iowa
Her first call was a rural parish in Virginia where partisan labels didn’t work, but shared values did. In 2013 she moved to Iowa when her husband joined Drake University. She then served a large suburban congregation in Clive.
Nonprofit & Interfaith Work
Since 2017 she has worked with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC), connecting diverse religious and secular communities around food insecurity. She preaches across the region and focuses on relationship-building to address community needs.
Service in the Iowa Senate & Winning Tough Seats
She has twice defeated Republican Senate presidents. In 2020 she flipped Charles Schneider’s seat; after redistricting, she moved to challenge Jake Chapman in an R+5 district and won. She later defended the seat even as Trump carried the district. She emphasizes tireless door-knocking and showing up for Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike.
What Surprised Her in the Legislature
She was struck by how much personality drives outcomes in the legislative process and how heavily the governor shapes the majority caucus’s agenda.
Food Insecurity, SNAP, and Policy Priorities
Her DMARC work shows record-high food pantry usage. Expanded SNAP benefits during the pandemic cut the numbers in half; ending them caused a surge. She criticizes federal cuts and delays. If she could pass major legislation in Congress, she would prioritize affordable healthcare with a public option, keeping private insurance for those who want it but ensuring universal coverage.
Refugees, Immigration & Rule of Law
She fought to restore funding for Lutheran Services in Iowa after the state reneged on promised refugee support. She stresses refugees are legal, heavily vetted immigrants. Her broader immigration priorities include securing all ports of entry, enforcing laws fairly, protecting rights, and fixing long wait times for citizenship.
Views on Trump, Impeachment & Voter Priorities
She says she receives little direction from national Democrats and instead listens to Iowans, who are focused on making ends meet. Her priority is restoring stable, competent governance rather than speculating about impeachment.
Navigating Party Pressure & National Influence
She says she has historically run and won with local teams and grassroots support, not national consultants. She argues campaigns must remain local and contrasts herself with Zach Nunn, whose donations mostly come from out of state.
Primary Opponents & Key Differences
She frames her candidacy as a calling grounded in public service, not political ambition. She highlights two reform bills she introduced:
* Term limits
* A stock-trading ban for elected officialsShe notes she is the only candidate in the race who filed these bills.
Preaching Style
Known for reciting scripture from memory, she sees it as her primary spiritual practice. Memorizing scripture helps her embody the message and connect across differences.
Shutdown Deal & Healthcare Subsidies
She says she would vote no on a shutdown-extension deal that fails to protect healthcare subsidies, arguing government shouldn’t force false choices between harmful options.
Assessment of Zach Nunn
She argues Nunn “rode coattails,” hasn’t delivered on lowering costs, and has never held an open town hall. She says he hides when voters are upset and follows national party leaders over constituents.
Fundraising & Electability
She has raised over $1 million in five months and held 100+ events, including a 150-person town hall. She anticipates needing around $7 million total. She positions herself as highly electable due to winning Republican districts even in tough cycles.
Lessons from Cindy Axne’s Loss
She notes that redistricting and a weak field program contributed to Axne’s defeat and that in close races every door and every voter contact matters.
Younger Voters & Engagement
She sees more young people, especially young women, getting involved in campaigns. When people get close to the process, she says, they begin to see their own potential to lead.
Recent Election Takeaways
Strong wins for Democratic women in competitive states encouraged her. She believes cost of living remains the central issue nationwide, and local engagement remains essential.
Electability & Final Message
She argues Democrats must nominate someone who can win the general election. Her record of flipping and holding Republican-leaning seats shows she can connect on shared values and deliver victories.
Her “Dream Dinner Party”
She would invite Rob Sand, Andy Beshear, and pragmatic Democratic women in Congress who have won tough districts:
* Nikki Budzinski
* Hillary Scholten
* Sharice DavidsShe imagines it as a potluck.
Mikki Williams - Today’s Podcast Guest
With all the serious issues plaguing the world today, I had no intention of doing this show, because it is about shoes, fashion, glamour, makeup — and incase you haven’t noticed — I put no attention to those four topics. My shirt of choice is a black, long-sleeved Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat, and my back hurts at the thought of wearing high heels, let alone 4” stilettos.
But you MUST meet Mikki, world-wide keynote speaker who teaches leaders how to capture an audience, a solid business coach, a TedX talker, and in her late 70s declared she was going to do a one-woman standup comedy routine, and then packed a Chicago venue for that purpose.
I collect people, and Mikki is a very rare specimen. She crossed my mind the other day, so I picked up the phone to catch up, and say howdy-do.
Mikki answered the call from her watch, and I could hear her clicking heels cross the floor to find her phone. My God, she must wear heels in the comfort of her own home.
In October of this year, Mikki Williams recorded her first Tik Tok video, giving a tour of her closet. It has had over 1mm views.
So, this is more than a conversation about shoes, lipstick, and concealer. It’s a story of reinvention at any age, and not being afraid to try something new.
And as Mikki says, be outrageous. It’s the only space that isn’t crowded.
Okoboji Year Round
The annual Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat will take place September 27-30, 2026. We have five literary agents coming! One who came last year became so enthralled by Iowa, and the retreat, she rounded up a few of her colleagues saying ‘you must come to Iowa - it’s virgin territory for literary agents.’
We also have three comedians, an entertainment lawyer, a few new novelists, as well as OWSR favorites returning. This will be the best retreat yet.
In answer to requests from participants to extend the retreat, we are launching the Okoboji Mastery Circle online starting in January, featuring OWSR speakers who will bring their 90-minute workshops to Zoom. I’ll facilitate these sessions, on the second Wednesday of each month, through October.
Early Birders will be able to sign up for the OMC and OWSR for one low price. The best deal ever. Learn more and enroll:
Or, just enroll in the online Okoboji Mastery Circle:
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
Did you catch the Sunday Roundup?
Holiday Party for Paid Subscribers
The IWC Holiday Party will be Wednesday, December 17 at the Harkin Institute in Des Moines at 7pm. It’s FREE for any paid subscriber to any IWC writer column, including this one, or $35 the night of the event. The award-winning duo Weary Ramblers will be performing and IWC authors will be on hand for socialization and goodwill. Please RSVP here.
If you support any one of our writers or Iowa Capital Dispatch, you’re invited to join us for a reception with light refreshments, conversation, and live music from our own Weary Ramblers and special guests.
