2016
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A Day On The Trail With Pat Murphy
Iowa Starting Line will be doing a series of posts where we follow along a major primary candidate for most of a day as they campaign. We hope it gives a different, unique look into who the man or woman running for office is, beyond just their stump speeches and debate points. We followed Pat…
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Branstad Has Time For Tulips, Eggs, None For Teachers On Teacher Appreciation Day
It’s Teacher Appreciation Day today, where we thank the committed professionals who get up each day to prepare our state’s children for the future. And many of them in Iowa could probably use an extra reminder of how grateful we really are for all their hard work. Google even has a nice little “Doodle” for…
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Starting Line Partners With Progress Iowa
Starting Line has some exciting news to share with our readers today: we will be partnering with Progress Iowa throughout 2016! I (Pat) will also be joining the Progress Iowa team as their communications director, while still also running Starting Line. I’m really excited about this new venture that I think will benefit both organizations…
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Democrats Choose Their Future At Epically Long 3rd District Convention
Iowa Democrats gathered at four district conventions around the state on Saturday to select national delegates from the Iowa Caucus. The results mirrored what happened back on caucus night, with Hillary Clinton maintaining her one-delegate lead from the Congressional district level. Other votes taken yesterday will likely shape the Iowa Democratic Party long into the…
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What The Governor’s Conference On LGBTQ Youth Is Really Like
Conservative Republicans’ attempts to investigate or restrict local funding for the Governor’s annual Conference on LGBTQ Youth seem to have largely backfired. Monday’s gathering in downtown Des Moines saw the largest attendance yet in its 11-year run, with over 1,100 students, parents and educators showing up. Few topics in Iowa have seen more political controversy…
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Here’s How Each 3rd District Democrat Made Their Pitch To Beat David Young
The Johnston and Urbandale Democrats hosted the three hopefuls looking to take on David Young – Desmund Adams, Jim Mowrer and Mike Sherzan – for the Des Moines/Council Bluffs-based 3rd District. About four dozen local Democrats filled the seats at the Johnston Public Library, well-fed that evening with a large bounty of cookies from local…
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At Forums Democrats Spar Over Labels In 1st District, Mostly Agree In 3rd District
Tornadoes to the southwest of Des Moines threatened to cut short the 3rd District Democrats’ forum in Johnston on Wednesday night, but the candidates in the room were at least all blowing in the same direction on policy issues. Meanwhile, the 1st District forum proved a much stormier affair with Pat Murphy constantly pressing Monica…
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Who’s A Winner In American Elections? A Majority Or Plurality?
Guest post from Nate Willems This is America, whoever has a majority wins. This is America, whoever has the most votes wins. Which statement is more correct? We don’t seem to have a good or clear answer to this question. Put aside the law, the rules or the system. We lack a clear answer as…
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Meet Iowa’s Next Crop Of Rising Young Political Reporters
Coming soon to a byline near you… Student journalists got a front row seat to national politics during this past year’s Iowa Caucus. The access and opportunities they had to interview presidential candidates and break news on the most fascinating campaign in decades was unmatched around the country, and many Iowa college students took full…
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House GOP Dodges Vote On Equal Pay By Attacking Unions
The Iowa House found itself in a good old-fashioned Mexican standoff last night. Democrats loaded up their six-shooters with Equal Pay amendments. Republicans readied themselves with bullets aimed at labor organizing rights. Some brief, tense words were exchanged, but most of the evening was filled with nothing more exciting than blowing tumbleweeds as both sides postponed…
