Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to zach@iowastartingline.com.
Zachary Oren Smith
Latest from Zachary Oren Smith
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Report: Hinson’s husband arranges meetings between Iowa delegation and insurance lobby
New reporting shows US Rep. Ashley Hinson’s husband has brokered meetings between insurance lobbyists and Iowa’s entire congressional delegation, including his wife.
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Trone Garriott announces plan to close loopholes in House’s stock trading ban
US Rep. Zach Nunn has already signed onto a congressional stock trading ban bill. His Democratic challenger says it’s toothless, and her new agenda would fix it.
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Zach Lahn says his Kansas private school is a model for reinventing education. Here’s what that model looks like.
The Republican running for governor wants Iowa schools to look like the private school he co-founded in Kansas. A look at that school’s own numbers reveals underpaid teachers and a policy that turns away most kids with disabilities.
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Ethics complaint filed against Iowa Rep. Shannon Lundgren over character reference for convicted child abuser
An advocacy group’s ethics complaint alleges Rep. Shannon Lundgren improperly used her official title and Statehouse letterhead to vouch for a Dubuque County man convicted of child abuse.
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Iowa’s 2026 ballot: the 9 races that decide who runs your state
For the first time in over a decade, Iowa’s 2026 ballot doesn’t feature an incumbent running for governor. Here’s your guide to the nine most interesting races on your November ballot, and why each one matters for your healthcare, your water, and your wallet.
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Sand vs. Lahn: Where Iowa’s governor candidates stand on the issues
For the first time since 2017, the race for Iowa governor doesn’t have an incumbent on the ballot. Here’s where Rob Sand and Zach Lahn actually stand on taxes, health care, farms and more.
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Iowa’s US Senate race just became a real toss-up. Here’s what’s on the line.
The race to replace US Senator Joni Ernst just got a lot more competitive. And it hinges on real policy differences between Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek on major issues including healthcare, tariffs, and abortion.
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How Iowa maintains election security, making sure vote counts, step-by-step
From paper ballots to bipartisan hand counts, here’s what Iowa actually does to protect your vote — and how it stacks up against the rest of the country.
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Election forecaster says Iowa’s biggest races are in play
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report says Iowa’s Senate and governor’s races are now more competitive than Republicans would like them to be ahead of November’s election.
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Iowa Republican Rep. Shannon Lundgren vouches for man convicted of abusing children
Four days before a Dubuque County man was sentenced for child abuse, state Rep. Shannon Lundgren wrote the judge a letter on official Iowa Legislature letterhead vouching for his character.
