The U.S. House Democrats’ campaign arm announced Monday it is making $27 million in new ad reservations in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, including more than $2.5 million in Iowa media markets. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced the ad buys as part of an “offensive push” ahead of the November election. […]
Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
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Congressional candidate Sarah Corkery says Harris leading ticket will motivate Democratic voters
Sarah Corkery, the 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate said Tuesday that women’s health care rights will be a crucial issue in the upcoming election — and that having a woman, Vice President Kamala Harris, at the top of the ticket will help Democrats win. Corkery spoke about her commitment to defending legal abortion access at […]
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Lanon Baccam shares ‘history of service’ in Iowa State Fair speech
Democrat Lanon Baccam told the crowd at the Iowa State Fair Monday that he would bring his “history of service” and commitment to healthcare access to the U.S. Congress if elected. Speaking at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox Monday, the 3rd District Democratic nominee shared stories of his time serving in the Iowa National […]
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Iowa, national conservative leaders talk abortion, school choice at Family Leader event
Iowa and national conservative leaders discussed wins and future goals for issues like abortion and education policy Friday at the Family Leadership Summit, with one of the group’s officials calling for further abortion restrictions in Iowa. The Family Leader, an influential conservative Christian organization, brought speakers to the gathering of an estimated 1,000 at the […]
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Appeals court hears arguments on injunction blocking Iowa school book law
Attorneys for the state of Iowa and civil liberties groups clashed in court Tuesday over an injunction blocking enforcement of a law that restricts school libraries from carrying books with material related to sex acts, sexuality and gender. The injunction was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher in December 2023, days before enforcement […]
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Iowa ethics board fines candidate Melissa Vine and her former campaign manager for illegal contributions
Melissa Vine, a Democrat running in the June 4 primary in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district, and her former campaign manager Lou McDonald were each fined $500 by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Thursday after the board’s investigation found the two made contributions to a state political action committee in other people’s names. […]
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Gov. Kim Reynolds signs final bills from the 2024 legislative session, including hemp, traffic cameras, consolidation and secrecy laws
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed the final slate of bills remaining from the 2024 legislative session, including new laws related to the regulation of hemp-derived product and changes to the state’s boards and commissions. The signing of 20 bills marked the end of action on legislation passed during the 2024 session. While some of […]
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Iowa lawmakers debate until 2 a.m. in race to finish 2024 legislative session
Iowa lawmakers debated budget bills into the early morning Friday as they aim for the end of session in the coming days. Though legislators spent much of their days in party caucus meetings Thursday, members of both the House and Senate moved through dozens of bills during debate, in addition to meetings of the chambers’ […]
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Senate sends bill on traffic camera regulation, DOT oversight to governor
A bill regulating — but not banning — traffic camera use by local law enforcement was sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds by the Senate with bipartisan support Monday. House File 2681 passed 46-1 Monday, with Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, voting against he measure. The bill gives the Iowa Department of Transportation oversight of how Iowa cities […]
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Bill restricting consumable hemp products heads to governor’s desk
The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds a bill Tuesday that tightens Iowa’s laws and regulations on consumable hemp products as the products become more widely available. HF 2605, passed on a 31-18 vote, would put a limit of 4 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving in consumable hemp products, as well as a 10 […]
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Senate committee advances ‘sin tax’ for consumable hemp products
As lawmakers consider restrictions on hemp-derived THC and CBD products, the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed a measure Wednesday that would add a sin tax to consumable hemp products. SSB 3186 would set a 25 percent excise tax on the sales price of consumable hemp products, with the tax revenue going to the state’s […]
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proposes special education changes, income tax cuts in Condition of the State speech
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she plans to continue work this year on cutting taxes and consolidating and reorganizing Iowa’s state government systems with a focus on special education, boards and commissions and mental health care providers. The governor gave her Condition of the State address in the Iowa House Tuesday evening as winter […]
