Candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls sparred Thursday during the second U.S. Senate Democratic primary debate on issues like reproductive healthcare and how to best achieve their policy goals if elected. One of the notable disputes during the KCCI and Gray Media debate centered on reproductive healthcare. Wahls, a state senator from Coralville, said “reproductive […]
Election Coverage
Report: Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn flies to Kansas every six days, on average
Republican Zach Lahn has been spending a lot of time in Kansas, where he has a home, over the last seven months as he campaigns for governor as the “Iowa First” candidate, the Des Moines Register reported on Thursday. “I’m in Iowa the majority of the time, a tremendous amount of time,” Lahn told the […]
Early voting has begun in the June 2 primary. Here’s where and when to cast a ballot
Early voting in the June 2 primary election started on Wednesday. County auditors’ offices have started mailing out absentee ballots requested by voters and are opening their doors for early in-person voting. Early in-person voting will run through Monday, June 1, the day before the primary election, and all mail-in absentee ballots must be received […]
New poll shows AG Brenna Bird just 2 points ahead of Democratic challenger Nate Willems
On Wednesday, the Democratic Attorney Generals Association (DAGA) endorsed Nate Willems, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Iowa AG Brenna Bird in this year’s election. The endorsement isn’t a surprise since Willems is the only Democrat in the AG’s race. But what was more noteworthy were the results of a new poll that DAGA published along […]
In Des Moines, JD Vance calls Iran war a ‘little blip in the Middle East,’ Zach Nunn compares pain at the pump to sacrifice of Gold Star families
“My friends, this is not a normal election,” Vice President JD Vance said near the end of his speech at a campaign rally in Des Moines Tuesday. “This is not a normal political environment.” Vance then demonstrated a major reason why this is not a normal political environment. Republicans who follow the lead of Donald […]
Republican candidates for governor talk cancer, water quality, school vouchers and Rob Sand at Iowa PBS forum
Who wasn’t there was almost as important as who was at the Iowa PBS forum of Republican candidates for governor on Tuesday night. Frontrunner Randy Feenstra skipped it, as he has skipped other forums where his fellow Republicans running for the nomination appear, but he still loomed over the three Republicans who did show up […]
Rob Sand wants to legalize marijuana, regulate it like alcohol
Even before he launched his campaign for governor almost a year ago, Rob Sand has spoken out in favor of Iowa legalizing marijuana. On Monday, the Democratic candidate released details of his proposal to legalize and regulate adult use of cannabis in the state. “Establishing an adult-use cannabis industry in Iowa would also create thousands […]
Voters can now request an absentee ballot for the June 2 primary; three counties face new districted supervisor elections as a result of GOP law
Registered voters in Iowa can now request absentee ballots for the June 2 primary election from their county auditor’s office. The first day auditors can mail the ballots to voters who have requested them will be May 13, the same day early in-person voting begins. Printable absentee ballot request forms are available on the Iowa […]
Eddie Andrews accuses fellow GOP candidate for governor of threats and attempted sabotage as he qualifies for the primary ballot
State Rep. Eddie Andrews has qualified for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary ballot, the State Objection Panel ruled Wednesday. The three-person panel, which hears challenges to candidates’ nominating papers, began their discussion Tuesday on an objection filed challenging aspects of Andrews’ filing. When the panel initially met, staff for the Iowa Secretary of State’s office had found […]
Terry Branstad endorses Randy Feenstra for governor, The Family Leader endorses Adam Steen
Two of the five Republicans running for governor received major endorsements on Tuesday. The Family Leader, a rightwing Christian political organization that plays a prominent role in Iowa Republican politics, endorsed former Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen. Shortly afterwards, Rep. Randy Feenstra’s campaign published an endorsement from former governor Terry Branstad, who was […]
Rob Sand is the only Democrat running for governor after Julie Stauch fails to qualify for the primary ballot
Julie Stauch’s longshot campaign to win the Democratic nomination for governor came to an abrupt halt on Friday afternoon. “This afternoon I had a call from the Iowa Secretary of State’s election office telling me that my petitions did not meet the requirements during their review,” Staunch posted Friday evening on Facebook. “Two counties had […]
Democrat Wade Dooley ends his campaign for Secretary of Ag, leaving Chris Jones to face incumbent Mike Naig in November
Two months after announcing his run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Democrat Wade Dooley ended his campaign on Wednesday. “This is my first foray into statewide campaigning, and it’s been an eye-opener,” Dooley said in a written statement. “The amount of time, staff and money that it takes is truly daunting. And at this point […]

