A roundup of campaign news items of interest:
CONVENTION WEEKEND: Iowa Democrats and Republicans will have their district conventions Saturday to elect delegates to state conventions in June and hear from candidates for office in the June 5 primary and Nov. 6 general elections.
First District Democrats will gather at Kirkwood Community College Regional Center, 1770 Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. First District Republicans will meet at Berndes Center, Monticello.
In the 2nd District, Democrats will meet at the Fairfield Convention Center, Fairfield, and Republicans will meet at Iowa City West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave., Iowa City.
The conventions start at 10 a.m.
BOLTON IN C.R.: Linn County Democratic Reps. Art Staed and Todd Taylor and state Sen. Liz Mathis are hosting a fundraiser for gubernatorial hopeful Sen. Nate Boulton of Des Moines from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 25 at Raygun, 1028 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids.
CLIMATE HAWKS ENDORSE: Iowa 1st District Democratic hopeful Thomas Heckroth has been endorsed by Climate Hawks Vote, a group committed to electing candidates willing to lead on the environment.
Climate Hawks Political Director RL Miller said Heckroth will “stand up to the Trump administration and flip a very winnable seat.”
He noted Heckroth’s most recent work was helping private businesses reduce their carbon footprint.
Climate Hawks Vote only takes sides in primaries where there’s a clear contrast, Miller said.
Heckroth is the only candidate in the four-way race for the Democratic nomination — to face Republican Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque in the general election — who has committed to refusing campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry.
He also supports a 100 percent transition to renewable energy by 2050.
DEMOCRAT DEJEAR ENDORSEMENTS: Democratic Secretary of State hopeful Deidre DeJear has announced the endorsement of 26 members of the Iowa House and Senate.
The Des Moines businesswoman also announced the creation of her own Voter ID Toolkit that she said will be more helpful than the one being distributed by Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate.
State senators endorsing DeJear include Bill Dotzler, Janet Petersen, Joe Bolkcom, Kevin Kinney, Liz Mathis, Matt McCoy, Pam Jochum, Tod Bowman and Tony Bisignano.
Representatives who endorsed her include Ako Abdul-Samad, Amy Nielsen, Brian Meyer, Chris Hall, Cindy Winckler, Helen Miller, Jo Oldson, John Forbes, Liz Bennett, Phyllis Thede, Ras Smith, Ruth Ann Gaines, Vicki Lensing, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Lisa Heddens, Timi Brown-Powers and Kirsten Running-Marquardt.