5 Presidential Campaign Stops That Are Also Awesome Places to Live
Every four years, presidential hopefuls put a select handful of cities into the political spotlight as they visit before the first caucuses and primary votes are held. While most of the country only sees these places as backdrops for town halls and baby-kissing photos, take a closer look, and you’ll find these cities have a lot more to offer than early poll numbers.
With great food scenes, affordable housing, outdoor activities and entertainment, these five political cities deserve much more attention than a brief campaign stop every four years.
In This Article
1. Sioux City, Iowa
Though the tides are changing on the order of the primary races for the Democratic party (with South Carolina serving as the new launch point for primary season), the Iowa caucuses have historically been one of the most watched political events of the election — and politicians race to make their campaign announcements so they can start traveling all over the state of Iowa, eager to impress the discerning Iowa voter.
Located in northwest Iowa with a population of just 82,000, Sioux City has always been a hotspot for ambitious presidential candidates; Nikki Haley held a town hall there during the 2024 primary season and in 2020, it was visited by the likes of Bill De Blasio and Julian Castro.
Outside of the political sphere, however, Sioux City is a town that’s steeped in history, which you can learn about by visiting the interactive Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, taking a walking tour of the historic 19th-century Romanesque-style commercial buildings on Fourth Street or perusing the exhibits on early Native American life on the Missouri River at the Sioux City Public Museum.
If politics don’t raise your heart rate, the sports scene in Sioux City just might. Local fans can cheer on the Sioux City Bandits, the professional indoor football team or root for the Sioux City Explorers (nicknamed the X’s), a professional baseball team in the American Association of Professional Baseball.
2. Manchester, New Hampshire
Second to the Iowa Caucuses is the New Hampshire primary — one of the fiercest political competitions in the presidential race. One popular stop on the New Hampshire political circuit is Manchester, a city Elizabeth Warren visited during her “exploratory campaign for president (which, of course, later became an actual presidential campaign in 2020).
When not serving as the launching point for presidential campaigns, Manchester, which earned a place on Livability’s 2024 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, is a quintessential New England town that’s filled with the two things that all New Englanders love: sports and food.
Manchester is home to two beloved minor league sports teams — the N.H. Kingz (a team in the American Basketball Association Semi-Pro League) ) and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the cheekily named affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league baseball team.
And when you’re not obsessing over the scoreboard, you can satisfy your sweet tooth at Honey Cup Café & Tearoom, which serves up delicious scones and croissants, or dive into some succulent pan-seared crab cakes or grilled lamb steak at one of Manchester’s favorite trendy eateries, Cotton.
3. Des Moines, Iowa
When you’re running for president, you must make a pit stop or two in Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines. In 2020, Democratic candidates like Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (who, of course, cinched up the 2024 nomination after Joe Biden dropped out of the race), and Bernie Sanders greeted crowds and laid out their platforms at Des Moines landmarks like the Iowa State fairgrounds and Drake University.
But even when the city isn’t abuzz with campaign visits, Des Moines is a modern, artistic city that’s got a food scene comparable to those on the coasts — and it’s affordable to boot, so it’s easy to understand why Des Moines is one of the best places to live in Iowa.
Practically the inventors of the farm-to-table movement, the Des Moines restaurant scene is filled with farm-fresh, locally produced meat and vegetables at hot spots like Aposto, where modern cuisine is served inside an 1880 Victorian mansion or at trendy downtown HoQ, where the chefs showcase the work of Iowa farmers through a globally-inspired menu.
When you’re not eating in Des Moines, you’ll likely be looking at or experiencing art. Whether you’re Instagramming your way through the eclectic John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park or attending the annual 80/35 indie music festival, you’ll find culture on every corner of the city.
4. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth — a picturesque town located right on the New England seacoast — is always on the political map during presidential races. In February 2020, Vice President (then senator) Kamala Harris braved a snowy Portsmouth evening to hold a town hall, solidifying its importance in the presidential primary battle.
When Portsmouth doesn’t have political rallies or presidential pancake breakfasts scheduled, it’s a haven for those who love to be on the water – whether you’re getting some sun and learning some history on the Portsmouth Harbor Cruises or paddling on the Little Harbor Basin on a midnight kayak ride.
You can also get a dose of history and some retail therapy at Portsmouth’s Market Square, home to several local shops and restaurants — and has been the city’s main commercial space since the mid-1700s.
5. Cedar Valley Area, Iowa
Located in eastern Iowa, the Cedar Valley area (which consists of six counties and is home to 250,000 people) often hosts presidential candidates who are reeling from marathon campaign stops before the caucuses, particularly in cities like Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.
In the off-political season, however, the Cedar Valley area is a destination with plenty of natural beauty that locals and visitors can enjoy year-round. The leaf peeping is undeniably tops at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Rapids each fall — and you definitely don’t want to miss kayaking down the gorgeous Cedar River in the summer, which runs through Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids.
As for arts and culture in the valley, you can take a peek inside Grant Wood’s studio (where he painted the iconic “American Gothic”) or take in the largest collection of his work at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Cedar Falls is also home to the Hearst Center of the Arts and Sculpture Garden, which has exhibitions on local and regional artists and is a hub for community art classes and poetry readings.
Oh, and be sure to eat a kolach (or five) at the annual Kolach Festival in Cedar Rapids. You’ll thank us later.