At a Cedar Rapids church, the 125-year-old hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became a political touchstone Saturday as three Democratic candidates for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat each reflected on a stanza of the song.
Reatha Moore of Waterloo sings the third verse of the hymn ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ during the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The forum celebrated the 225th anniversary of the hymn’s creation. Each speaker was encouraged to relate their speech to the verse sung before they came to the podium.
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Josh Turek talks about affordable health care and livable wages during the The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
State Sen. Zach Wahls takes about healthcare and improving medical care for people of color during The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
U.S. Democrat Senate Candidate Nathan Sage talks about his experiences growing up in a working class family during The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Josh Turek talks about affordable health care and livable wages during the The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
Reatha Moore of Waterloo sings the third verse of the hymn ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ during the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The forum celebrated the 225th anniversary of the hymn’s creation. Each speaker was encouraged to relate their speech to the verse sung before they came to the podium.
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Josh Turek talks about affordable health care and livable wages during the The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
State Sen. Zach Wahls takes about healthcare and improving medical care for people of color during The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
U.S. Democrat Senate Candidate Nathan Sage talks about his experiences growing up in a working class family during The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Josh Turek talks about affordable health care and livable wages during the The Iowa Democratic Black Caucus democratic candidate forum at Mount Zion Baptist Church in northeast Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
