2016
-
Youth Movement: Democrats Turn To Younger Candidates In Primary
For years Democrats in Iowa have bemoaned the lack of younger elected leaders within the party. While 13 Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are 40 years old or younger, only 4 Democrats are. That’s led to some concern about who will lead the party into the future. After last week’s primary, however, a new crop of young…
-
Des Moines Gay Bar Owners Reflect On A Shattered Safe Space
The show went on for attendees and organizers at the Des Moines Pridefest in the East Village today, but the celebrations were mixed with sorrow over the tragic news from the Orlando terrorist attack. Some first learned of the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub upon arriving to the annual LGBT festival. The news…
-
GOP’s Secret Switch To Put Jason Delzell In House District 88
An outsider may have captured the Republicans’ presidential nomination, but the establishment forces still hold the power locally in Iowa. Voters in Des Moines, Louisa and Muscatine counties were denied the chance to select their next GOP nominee for House District 88 thanks to incumbent Tom Sands’ surprise retirement two days after the primary. Instead, a…
-
Chuck Grassley’s Reelection Just Got Off To A Disastrous Start
Talk to Democrats privately in Iowa and you’ll know they’re not kidding themselves: despite the Supreme Court controversy, defeating Chuck Grassley is an uphill climb. Most are simply excited that the possibility even exists this year to knock off the six-term incumbent. Could Patty Judge defeat Grassley? Absolutely. But a whole lot of factors have…
-
Key Takeaways From The Iowa Primary Results
Iowans didn’t have to stay up too late last night to see who came out on top of the main primary races on both the Democratic and Republican side. For the most part things played out as people expected. Starting Line will spend part of the next week taking some dives into specific primary results and what…
-
Chuck Grassley Is Delaying Supreme Court Nomination For A Racist
There’s no other way to put it: Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is blocking President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination so that a racist can fill it instead. Donald Trump’s bigoted attacks on Judge Curiel’s Hispanic heritage finally did what so many other insane ramblings from the nominee haven’t: they shocked Republicans into condemnation. Paul Ryan called it…
-
Iowa Republicans Imploding, Senator Bolts Party Over Trump Racism
For weeks Republican Party of Iowa chair Jeff Kaufmann has traveled the state as part of his #UnitedIowa tour, telling activists and media that they’re “ahead of schedule” in coming together for their presidential nominee. Well, not so fast. If Iowa Republicans are ahead of schedule on anything, it’s the complete breakup and implosion of the party. Today…
-
What To Watch For In Today’s Iowa Primaries
It’s primary day in Iowa! Polls are open until 9:00PM, and campaigns are going all-out today to get their identified supporters to the polls. What should Iowa politics watchers keep their eye on tonight? Starting Line has a few suggestions below. You can also watch myself and The Iowa Republican’s Craig Robinson do live commentary on…
-
Whoops: Jake Highfill Uses Official Legislative Email To Ask For Votes
The proper use of government email has become a high-profile election issue in this 2016 cycle. Not wanting Hillary Clinton to have all the fun, Jake Highfill seems to have decided to add himself into some email controversy. State Representative Jake Highfill once again faces a Republican primary challenge in his Johnston/Grimes-based district, this time…
-
Which Senate Candidate Is Really The More Electable One?
When Patty Judge entered the U.S. Senate race a little over two months ago, some Iowa Democrats were excited about the prospect. Chuck Grassley might finally be vulnerable thanks to his historic obstruction of the Supreme Court nomination, but some were worried Rob Hogg couldn’t fully take advantage of the situation. A candidate like Judge, who’s…
