Six years ago, a little-known state senator introduced herself to Iowans statewide with the words, “I’m Joni Ernst. I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm.” The “Make ’em Squeal” ad helped plant an image of Ernst in the public’s mind as a plain-speaking farm girl who wanted to bring Iowa common sense to […]
2014 Elections
Election 2014: How Johnson County voted

Huzzah! The 2014 election is over, and we can finally move on with the real business at hand: complaining and/or celebrating about the results while we dread the oncoming Iowa caucuses (only about 14 months away, friends!). Needless to say, Iowa Democrats had a very bad day yesterday, losing every congressional contest with the exception […]
Break from bipartisan: A rundown of Iowa’s third-party candidates
Hilary Clinton Rallies voters for Braley

After finishing a close third in the Iowa presidential caucuses less than eight years ago, it’s understandable that former first lady, lapsed New York senator, ex-secretary of state, and new grandmother Hillary Rodham Clinton might be cool on campaigning in Iowa. She arrived in Cedar Rapids Wednesday to stump for senate candidate Bruce Braley, and […]
Protesters call out Ernst on minimum wage, women’s rights

U.S. Sen. candidate Joni Ernst brought her pal, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, to Iowa City Wednesday for a campaign event that was marred by multiple protesters who interrupted their speeches on the steps outside Gilmore Hall on the University of Iowa campus. Right before the candidates arrived, the event was pushed outside. Shouting “Raise the […]
First Lady stumps for Braley in IC, jokes about ‘Bailey’ gaffe

Possibly the biggest question ahead of a voter turnout rally for Bruce Braley was how or if First Lady Michelle Obama would address her recent and repeated flub of Braley’s name during an early October event at Drake University when she referred to Braley as “Bailey” seven times. Mrs. Obama, reading from a teleprompter, joked […]
Fraccas in Johnson County: Residents divided over Courthouse expansion, local option sales tax
Rand Paul to visit Iowa City

Officials announced Tuesday that U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), a potential Republican frontrunner for the 2016 presidential election, will visit Iowa City on Tuesday, Aug. 5 to headline a fundraising event in support of Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ congressional campaign. Having snagged the Republican nomination for Iowa’s U.S. House 2nd district in June, Miller-Meeks will take […]