2017
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Can We Start Focusing On The More Winnable Races Now?
Kim Weaver’s candidacy has ended, and a follow-up story from the Des Moines Register raised serious questions about her reasoning for doing so. But whatever, it’s time to move on. Hopefully, part of moving on for Iowa Democratic activists will be a renewed focus on the 1st and 3rd congressional districts. Barring something incredibly dramatic, those…
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Iowa GOP Women Breaks Glass Ceilings, But Still Have Work To Do
It’s been a banner two weeks for Iowa Republicans. Last Wednesday they saw Terry Branstad step down for his Chinese ambassador role, swore in Kim Reynolds as governor, celebrated it this Friday night and hosted Vice President Mike Pence at Joni Ernst’s Roast And Ride. And at every opportunity during it, Republicans have pointed out…
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Joni Ernst: “No Regrets” On VP Chance. Ah, But What If?
Under a blazing hot sun yesterday, Senator Joni Ernst drove into her annual Roast And Ride fundraiser with Vice President Mike Pence at her side. Both were on motorcycles. But had just a few political calculations gone differently last year, it might have been Ernst who wore an official vice presidential riding jacket. Last June…
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Democrats Should Go On Offense On Immigration
Democrats haven’t been nearly aggressive enough in promoting immigration. It’s another one of those progressive messages that Democrats have been too timid to embrace. Yes, they have forcefully condemned the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from President Trump and other Republicans, but as many political pundits remind Democrats, it’s not enough to be against something. Voters want…
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Will Reynolds Step Out From The Shadows Of Trump & Terry?
Last week, Governor Kim Reynolds took over the reins of state government. As the new Governor, she has a unique opportunity this summer to rise above politics and break out from the over-sized shadows of both Trump and Branstad. I went to the transition ceremony and heard her outline her top priorities in her first…
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Will Iowa Republicans Push Drug Testing For Medicaid Recipients Next?
Watch out Iowa. Our political leaders seem to get many of their ideas from our neighbors in Wisconsin, and the latest idea being considered there is a real doozy. A few years ago, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his fellow Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature went after collective bargaining by teachers and other state and…
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Are Iowa Democrats Headed For A Gubernatorial Convention?
Just a couple months ago, Iowa Democrats were wondering if we’d have more than one or two candidates in the race for governor in 2018. Now, about one year out from the primary, we’re up to nine contenders who have either officially declared or have set up an exploratory committee. Of the four people exploring (Mike…
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Indivisible Scores First Win In Iowa With City Council Victory
Democrats in Iowa got some encouraging news with a special election city council win last night in the small, rural town of Solon. The race in rural Johnson County certainly wasn’t the biggest campaign battle ever, but it proved that relatively new, progressive activists could run for local office and win with a concerted campaign effort.…
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Democrats Plan Event To Counter Joni Ernst’s Roast And Ride
Iowa Republicans are getting ready for their exciting weekend of motorcycles, hog roasts and celebrating senators intent on taking away people’s healthcare. But Democrats don’t plan on letting them have all the fun in Boone for Joni Ernst’s Roast And Ride fundraiser this Saturday. A Picnic For The People is being planned by the Boone County…
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Cathy Glasson Launches “Bold, Progressive” Gubernatorial Bid
Democrats have another contender for the 2018 gubernatorial nomination: Cathy Glasson. She kicked off an exploratory committee today with a video outlining what she calls a “bold, progressive” agenda for Iowa. An ICU nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals for over 20 years, she’s the president of Iowa’s SEIU 199 (the union that covers…
