Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls officially launched his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign, taking aim at Joni Ernst and calling for a new generation of leadership to challenge Washington’s failed establishment. Wahls, known for his viral 2011 testimony supporting his two moms’ marriage rights, is positioning himself as a champion for working-class Iowans struggling with housing costs, healthcare access, and an economy “rigged to benefit those at the very top.”
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Wahls to discuss his campaign launch, his work protecting mobile home residents from predatory private equity firms, and why he believes Democrats need to stop “looking down on voters” and start meeting them where they are. We explore Wahls’ critique of political corruption in Des Moines, his push for term limits and stock trading bans, and Ernst’s tone-deaf “we’re all going to die” healthcare comment that’s already becoming campaign fodder.
Also, an overview of Iowa’s 2026 Senate race. The dangers of corporate Pride. Perry’s second chance.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
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*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Cornhole Champions Introduction – Zach Wahls Senate Campaign Launch
00:19 – Interview Begins – State Senator Zach Wahls Joins from Coralville/Iowa City
00:30 – Democratic Messaging Strategy – Reconnecting with Working Class Voters Post-2024
00:52 – Wahls’ Campaign Platform – Economy Rigged Against Hardworking Iowans
01:30 – Personal Examples – Daycare Costs and Mobile Home Community Challenges
02:00 – Democratic Party Critique – Too Many Know-It-All Attitudes Toward Voters
02:28 – Housing Affordability Crisis – Mobile Home Parks and Private Equity Takeovers
03:20 – Bipartisan Mobile Home Legislation – 30 Senators Supporting Tenant Protections
04:00 – Political Corruption Problem – Special Interest Money Blocking Bipartisan Solutions
04:29 – Next 50 Organization – Bringing New Generation Leadership to Politics
05:00 – Challenging the Establishment – Taking on Both Parties’ Failed Leadership
05:30 – Reform Agenda – Term Limits and Stock Trading Bans for Political Insiders
06:10 – Iowa Democrats’ Electoral Challenges – No Federal Wins Since 2018
06:30 – Recent Special Election Successes – Three Consecutive Democratic Overperformances
06:48 – Joni Ernst’s Healthcare Gaffe – “We’re All Going to Die” Comment
07:15 – Republican Healthcare Plan Critique – Waiting for Constituents to Die
07:30 – 99-County Strategy – Meeting Voters Through Grassroots Organizing
08:00 – Campaign Capacity Building – Voter Registration and GOTV Operations
08:34 – Grassroots Campaign Strategy – Taking on Washington’s Failed Establishment
09:04 – Campaign Website Plug – ZachWahls.com for More Information
09:21 – Interview Wrap-Up – Thanks to State Senator Zach Wahls
09:30 – Show Conclusion – Subscribe and Newsletter Information
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Since day one, our goal here at Iowa Starting Line has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Iowan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
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