Iowa legislators held a marathon session Saturday and Sunday to finish up the 2026 session, ending with a property tax deal and measures on warrant resolution clinics and abortion medication, as well as a budget compromise. The Iowa House began its final session at 8:31 a.m. Saturday, and gaveled out at 6:11 p.m. Sunday. In […]
Zach Wahls
Posted inElection Coverage
‘God bless the president’ for attacking Iran: Iowa Senators, Senate candidates react to Operation Epic Fury
Hours after President Trump announced early on Saturday morning that the United States and Israel were attacking Iran, Sen. Joni Ernst appeared on Newsmax to praise Trump for launching the attack. “God bless the president for executing this mission,” Ernst said. “Because this is not just changing for today, this is world-changing for years to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
One day after exiting the Senate race, Nathan Sage endorses Josh Turek, calls Zach Wahls ‘not authentic’
One day after ending his own run for the U.S. Senate, Nathan Sage endorsed Josh Turek for the Democratic nomination for Senate. In a statement on Monday, Sage said that both he and Turek come from working-class families “and it’s time we have more folks like us in Washington.” Sage, a veteran who served in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Windschitl ends 4th District campaign after Trump snub, dire fundraising report
Rep. Matt Windschitl, former Iowa House majority leader, was the latest candidate to announce his congressional campaign suspension Friday. Fields are narrowing in races for federal offices in Iowa, as fundraising reports show some candidates pulling ahead of primary challengers. Windschitl, who began his bid for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in July 2025, announced Friday […]
Posted inElection Coverage
‘Spineless, shameful bullshit’: Iowa Democratic candidates for Senate oppose funding deal with Republicans
As eight Senate Democrats broke with their party on Sunday night to vote for a Republican spending bill that would end the shutdown of the federal government but not restore the healthcare subsidies Democrats had made their central demand, the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) was hosting its Liberty and Justice Dinner in Des Moines. The […]
Posted inCommunity/News
As state and federal officials target speech they disapprove of, free speech proponents will rally in Iowa City Wednesday
Freedom of speech, and the importance of protecting it from powerful opponents, has become an urgent topic of discussion since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. His administration has, among other actions, aggressively targeted international students expressing opinions or engaging in protest it dislikes for deportation, pressured universities to change curricula to […]
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Ashley Hinson pledges loyalty to Trump, throws Zach Wahls a jab at Senate campaign kickoff
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, officially launching her U.S. Senate campaign in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, said Iowa Republicans can’t be complacent in 2026 if they want President Donald Trump to be able to accomplish his agenda. The Marion Republican announced her run earlier in September, hours after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said she would not […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Democrat Jackie Norris, Des Moines School Board chair and Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, is running for U.S. Senate
Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines School Board, is running for U.S. Senate. Norris hasn’t run for federal or statewide office before, but she’s been active in Iowa politics for almost 30 years. “Red versus blue isn’t fixing anything. Iowa needs a Senator who doesn’t just talk tough but rolls up their sleeves, and […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Zach Wahls is running for U.S. Senate with plans to ‘challenge the establishment’ in both parties
Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls entered the race for Joni Ernst’s U.S. Senate seat on Wednesday. Wahls, who is in his second term in the Iowa Senate representing Coralville, North Liberty and other parts of Johnson County, is one of the state’s better-known Democrats and has often been mentioned as a potential candidate for U.S. House, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Senate passes bill restricting eminent domain for carbon pipelines
Iowa senators voted 27-22 late Monday to pass a bill to limit the ability of carbon sequestration pipelines to use eminent domain, sending it to the governor’s desk after a drawn-out debate. The decision follows four years of urging from Iowans and House lawmakers for eminent domain reform in response to the proposed Summit Carbon […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Bill requiring Iowa schools show material from anti-abortion groups depicting ‘humanity of the unborn child’ at fertilization heads to governor’s desk
Iowa schools would have to show ultrasound videos and computer-generated graphics on fetal development in Iowa classrooms under legislation sent to the governor’s desk Monday. SF 175, approved 33-16, would require human growth and development classes for Iowa students in grades 5-12 to include ultrasound video and computer-generated renderings or animations depicting “the humanity of the […]
Posted inLetters
Letter from Sen. Zach Wahls: The conservation bond is a cost-effective way to secure a better, healthier future
By Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, Coralville As a state senator, Eagle Scout, and lifelong outdoorsman, I strongly endorse this year’s Johnson County Conservation Bond campaign. Please join me in flipping your ballot over and voting YES to approve the $30 million Johnson County Conservation Bond. The Johnson County Conservation Bond is a textbook example of […]
