A Turning Point Action staffer gives an American flag to a voter at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo \/ Hannah Fingerhut)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-09-05T11:21:05Z<\/p>\n
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) \u2014 Alongside the familiar sounds of roosters crowing and thrill seekers screaming on rides at the Iowa State Fair, there was a chorus of boos from Turning Point Action activists who were heckling Democratic politicians making their way through the crowds. <\/p>\n
Videos of the confrontations got hundreds of thousands of views on social media, a burst of attention for a conservative youth organization that is charting its next chapter after last year\u2019s assassination<\/a><\/span> of its leader Charlie Kirk<\/a><\/span>. But the true test of Turning Point Action\u2019s clout was unfolding inside the exhibition center, where staff members were registering voters, handing out buttons and signing people up for social events. <\/p>\n \u201cBuilding the foundation for 2028,\u201d said one of the flyers. <\/p>\n While Democrats have punted Iowa<\/a><\/span> from the top of its presidential primary calendar<\/a><\/span>, the state\u2019s caucuses will still kick off Republicans\u2019 next nominating process. Turning Point Action is positioning itself to shape that contest, a reminder that preparations for the next White House campaign are already in motion even though no candidates have announced and the midterm elections<\/a><\/span> aren\u2019t over yet.<\/p>\n Turning Point Action wants at least one staffer in each of Iowa\u2019s 99 counties to mobilize the conservative grassroots. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to us to see high voter participation in the caucuses,\u201d said Tyler Bowyer, the organization\u2019s chief operating officer. \u201cThat\u2019s your measuring stick.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to Iowa, Turning Point Action grew its footprint in New Hampshire and Nevada for this year\u2019s midterms, which could also help in 2028. <\/p>\n