"My focus is squarely on helping our party begin winning elections again," she said.
IOWA VAN CRASH LEAVES 4 DEAD, 'MULTIPLE OTHERS' INJURED
Hart said her experience raising $5 million for the congressional race and winning in a district that former President Donald Trump carried will serve her well as she works to help other Democrats win.
Iowa Democrats chose a former state senator, Rita Hart, above, to lead the state Democratic Party. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
But she'll also have to help the state party decide how to respond to the national Democratic Party's decision to put the South Carolina primary ahead of Iowa’s caucuses, which have long been the first presidential nominating contest in the country.
IOWA GOVERNOR TOUTS SCHOOL CHOICE LAW, SAYS OTHER STATES SHOULD FOLLOW
If the state party doesn’t go along with the national party’s decision, Iowa Democrats will run the risk that its delegates will not count toward the national nominating total.
But there is a state law that requires the caucuses to be held at least eight days before any other presidential nominating contest.
The state party's last leader decided not to run for another term.