Politics

Photos: 2016 Presidential Candidates at the Iowa State Fair

The contenders spoke with voters, played festival games, and ate an array of food on a stick in an effort to appeal to the first state to pick the presidential nominees.

Sarah Gibbens and National Journal

The Iowa State Fair, held from Aug. 13 to Aug. 23, offered presidential hopefuls the opportunity to speak with Iowa voters. Whether addressing policy concerns on the soapbox or eating pork chops on sticks, candidates did everything they could to woo fairgoers.  

Republican presidential candidate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie takes a turn at the grill at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Christie and his wife Mary Pat share a beer at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Christie speaks to visitors. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Immigrant rights protestors interrupt Chris Christie while he speaks at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal greets visitors at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Jindal greets visitors at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to visitors at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Cruz eats a pork chop at the Iowa State Fair. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Immigrant rights activists demonstrate outside Ted Cruz's Religious Liberty Rally in Des Moines, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio mans the grill with U.S. Rep. David Young at the Iowa Pork Producers Pork Tent. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Rubio, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Anthony Rubio tour the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich works the grill at the Iowa Pork Producers Pork Tent. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Kasich looks at a giant pumpkin as he tours the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry talks fairgoers as he tours the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina works the grill at the Iowa Pork Producers Pork Tent. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Fiorina looks at the Butter Cow while touring the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) rides on the back of a golf cart with his sister Darline Graham Nordone (C). (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Graham visits the Republican Party of Iowa booth. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks to members of the media during the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Walker greets fairgoers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A protestor wearing a cheesehead hat yells as Walker speaks (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton holds a Pork Chop on a Stick. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Clinton greets a contestant in a cattle competition. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Clinton hugs a friend while touring the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad eat a pork chop on a stick. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Bush flips a pork chop on a grill at the Iowa Pork Tent. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Bush throws a baseball at as he plays a carnival game. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders is surrounded by media as he drinks a soda. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sanders speaks to fairgoers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson rides the Sky Glider with a reporter while touring the Iowa State Fair. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Carson looks at a display of fetus development as he visits the 'Iowa Right to Life' booth. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump eats a pork chop on a stick. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump greets fairgoers while campaigning. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The helicopter belonging to Donald Trump flies over the Pork Chop on a Stick stand. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential hopeful and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley greets fairgoers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Republican presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks to fairgoers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) speaks to fairgoers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Recommended Reading