Can Democrats win in deep-red western Iowa? As Republicans dominate rural districts, one mom is betting that grassroots organizing and door-to-door conversations can flip a seat that hasn’t seen Democratic representation in years.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Catelin Drey, the 37-year-old founder of Moms for Iowa, who’s running in a special election for Iowa Senate District 1 in Sioux City.
Toss some bags at “no” tax on tips… merit pay for teachers… a Sioux City special election next week… and a new candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson.
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.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 – Democrats Beating Odds in Rural Iowa Districts
01:30 – How “Moms for Iowa” Instagram Account Started a Movement
03:30 – From Phone Calls to Running for Office (The Gulf)
04:30 – Uvalde Shooting Sparks Mom’s Political Awakening
07:00 – “When You Need a Mess Cleaned Up, You Send Mom”
09:00 – School Voucher Fight That Changed Everything
12:00 – Why Losing Rural Schools Destroys Communities
14:30 – Special Election Strategy: Knocking Every Door
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
– Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
– Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
– Threads – https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
– LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/
*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
– Twitter – https://twitter.com/iastartingline
– Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine
– TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline
– YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w
WATCH: The truth behind the Iowa GOP’s misleading school funding claims
Every year, Iowa Republicans announce a school funding increase. Every year, it doesn’t keep up with inflation. After a decade, schools are $270...
WATCH: Iowa farmers say tariffs are devastating farm economy
Iowa farmers describe the growing crisis facing family farms as tariffs drive up input costs and gut export markets. “There’s no plan,” said...
WATCH: Farmer: Trump’s tariffs ‘undermine our rural way of life’
President Donald Trump has enacted sweeping tariffs on imported goods, igniting trade disputes and disrupting global markets. Some Iowa farmers are...
WATCH: Iowa GOP fears losing, wants to kneecap the next governor
Iowa Republicans are trying to strip the next governor's powers before the election even happens. They've done it before.
WATCH: Iowa Republicans voted for a bill that makes it harder for women to vote
Iowa’s House delegation voted for the SAVE Act—a bill that makes registering to vote harder for the 69 million women whose birth certificates don’t...
WATCH: Nathan Sage suspends US Senate campaign, endorses Josh Turek
US Marine and Army veteran Nathan Sage suspended his campaign for US Senate and endorsed primary opponent and Iowa Rep. Josh Turek.
