Political posters and banners from Dem party allegedly displayed in Iowa high school

Pictures posted online appear to show a public school in Iowa has anti-school choice and pro-abortion posters on display, some of which are from the state’s Democratic Party.

Mateo Portelli, a University of Las Vegas student who is in Iowa to volunteer for a debate tournament, told The Lion he took photos of the posters and shared them on X.

“I didn’t know that @DMschools allow teachers to post partisan (@iowademocrats) signs in public schools,” he wrote on social media. “Is this normal practice? If so, I’m confident that the @IowaGOP has some cool designs they could pass out — in the spirit of bipartisanship, y’know?”

Later, school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis shared the photos, saying, “This propaganda from the Iowa Democratic Party was just found in a public school in Des Moines, Roosevelt High School.” 

DeAngelis also shared it was likely illegal for the political activity to be in the school building.  

“Iowa Code §68A.505 prohibits the use of public funds for any political purpose,” according to a state ethics document.  

“I Believe Public Dollars Belong in Public Schools,” said one of the Democratic Party posters, referencing opposition to school choice programs. The other said, “Defend Choice,” presumably a pro-abortion slogan.  

Other posters contained left-leaning quotes, such as “Reward Work, Not Wealth,” which included the raised fist seen on communist and Black Lives Matter signs. And two posters related to abortion read “Reproductive Freedom” and “Parenthood should be a choice!”  

Neither Des Moines Public Schools nor the state’s Democratic Party responded to The Lion’s request for comment before publication.