Senate Candidate’s Border Stance Questioned After Appearance at Bookstore Selling Anti-ICE Merchandise

In an apparent contradiction between campaign messaging and political associations, Iowa Democratic Senate hopeful Zach Wahls finds himself under scrutiny after hosting a campaign event at a bookstore known for its far-left activism, despite positioning himself as a moderate who believes in “old Democratic values.”

The state senator, who is vying for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Joni Ernst, held a Saturday meet-and-greet at Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. The event has raised questions about Wahls’ political alignment, particularly regarding immigration policy, where his campaign stance appears at odds with the venue’s openly anti-immigration enforcement position.

Video footage obtained from the event showed prominent signage reading “ICE IS NOT WELCOME HERE” displayed near the bookstore’s entrance. The establishment has recently created merchandise featuring an “ABOLISH ICE” logo and pledged to donate a quarter of its sales to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, a network of organizations that includes groups openly advocating for ICE’s dissolution.

This positioning contrasts sharply with Wahls’ campaign promises. His website explicitly states he will work to “secure the border and fix our broken immigration system,” and his social media messaging emphasizes the need for immigration policy based on “law and order.”

“I believe in the old Democratic values of hard work and family, not handouts for billionaires and insiders,” Wahls states in a campaign video prominently featured on his social media accounts.

Dog-Eared Books has established itself as a hub for progressive activism in Iowa. Beyond its anti-ICE stance, the bookstore hosts drag story time events for children, promotes books that have been removed from school libraries due to sexually explicit content, and has organized events expressing anti-Israel sentiments. The store also encourages patrons to participate in letter-writing campaigns advocating for progressive policy positions such as universal healthcare access.

Wahls’ choice of venue raises questions about where he truly stands on contentious political issues as he navigates a competitive Democratic primary. His main opponent, State Representative Josh Turek, is among several candidates he’ll face in the June primary contest.

When contacted before and after the event for comment on whether he was aware of the bookstore’s activism and whether he had reservations about holding a campaign event there, Wahls did not respond to requests for comment. The bookstore similarly did not provide a response.

The event itself was titled “Reading and Running: A conversation with Zach Wahls and Chloe Angyal,” featuring Wahls alongside his novelist wife. The bookstore has previously hosted events for Angyal and sells her romance novels.

Prior to his political career, Wahls gained national attention after a speech he gave to the Iowa legislature about growing up with two mothers went viral. The speech came amid efforts in Iowa to amend the state’s constitution regarding same-sex marriage, and Wahls and his wife credit that moment for their initial meeting.

Should Wahls win both the primary and general election, he would serve alongside longtime Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, creating a split representation for the increasingly conservative-leaning state.

The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges Democratic candidates face in politically diverse states like Iowa, where appealing to progressive primary voters while maintaining positions palatable to a general electorate can create messaging tensions that opponents are quick to exploit.