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Former President Barack Obama is getting involved in the midterm races for Democrats in key races around the country. This morning he released a round of endorsements for candidates in 14 states, including Iowa. On his Iowa list was secretary of state candidate Deidre...
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard sits down with Flip It Iowa co-founders Jim Lewers and Temple Hiatt to discuss their grassroots organization that's connecting swing district legislative Democratic candidates...
Montana Governor Steve Bullock joked that he wouldn't talk about his Iowa ties at his meet-and-greet in Coralville this weekend, but those local connections showed up all the same. Barbara Smith, Bullock's second cousin that lives in Iowa City, heard through the...
EMILY's List is out with a new round of endorsements of Iowa candidate in important Statehouse races as they focus more attention in on the state. They're throwing their support behind five senate candidates and eight house candidates: Vicky Brenner (SD-13) Claire...
This week Greenfield, Iowa's municipal water utility announced a ban on the city's drinking water after initial tests indicated microcystin — a toxin produced by blue-green algae. The city is conducting further testing to confirm the source of the contamination....
The University of Iowa announced last week that it will close seven academic centers, shrink three others and eliminate 33 jobs. The reductions will save $3.5 million, officials said. The announcement should come as no surprise if you have been paying attention to...
Democrats in Iowa are feeling good as they head into the 2018 elections, boosted by turnout and registration data from the primary that shows their base energized and involved. The party added over 24,000 new registered Democrats in a month and saw their largest...
Jason Kander may have a new personal electoral goal for himself now that he's announced his candidacy for the Kansas City mayor's race, but his voting rights crusade will march on in Iowa and other states. "Nothing has changed about our program here in Iowa," Let...
Congressman John Delaney, the only declared Democratic presidential candidate for 2020, is staffing up his Iowa operation with a new hire that has some solid in-state experience. Monica Biddix will serve as Delaney's new communications director for the lead-off caucus...
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard speaks with Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny about what's happening in Eastern Iowa, followed by an interview with George Ramsey about his 1st District campaign. Let us...
Democrats have a good opportunity at retaking the Iowa House in the 2018 elections, but which candidates get the party's nomination in competitive primaries could prove a key factor. There are a lot more legislative primaries than usual this year - 25 in all for the...
Today, April 20, Iowa students will stage walkouts and demonstrations against gun violence at schools across Iowa. The event is organized by the group Students United Against Gun Violence Walkout. The group has events planned nationwide at over 2,000 schools. In...
While most of the attention will be focused on the governor's race and congressional primaries for the next two months, key match-ups for the Iowa Statehouse will be decided on June 5 as well. While many primaries for the Iowa House and Senate are lower profile...
Progress Iowa, a progressive issue advocacy group, had hoped to welcome Ivanka Trump to Des Moines on Monday with a billboard near the Des Moines airport. However, Lamar Advertising, the company that owns the signs, apparently dubbed their message as too...
After reading the paper and listening to the local news regarding the end of Bill Dix’s political career, I am reminded of a quote by John Dalberg-Acton, who wrote a letter to an Anglican Bishop. In it he said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts...
Why do Iowa law enforcement leaders oppose the Iowa Republicans’ anti-immigrant bill? The bill, SF481 (the so-called sanctuary bill), threatens to withhold state funds from cities and counties that they claim do not cooperate with federal immigration agents in holding...
Republicans' SF 2311 legislation would reverse Iowa’s long commitment to energy efficiency (energy conservation) programs, taking Iowa backwards. It would make energy efficiency programs optional and could eliminate them altogether. According to the Iowa Environment...
Rockwell Collins, one of Iowa’s largest corporations with over $5.26 billion in sales, paid no Iowa income tax in 2017. However, because of an out-of-control state Research Tax Credit program, Rockwell Collins received a check from Iowa taxpayers for nearly $14...
Rallies planned by Iowa organizations to speak out on gun violence are quickly attracting attention and interest. A "March For Our Lives" rally will be held in conjunction with national marches on March 24 in Des Moines at the Capitol, organized by Progress Iowa (the...
Am I the only one who is discouraged these days? [inline-ad id="2"] My state of mind is not helped by the news spewing out of Washington, D.C., and Des Moines many days. It doesn’t help my attitude when I see one of the top aides at the White House resigning under...
Democratic 3rd District candidate Pete D'Alessandro has a big guest coming in to campaign for him later this month: Senator Bernie Sanders will hold a rally with D'Alessandro on February 23. It will be the biggest surrogate of the cycle to come in specifically for a...
The next governor of Iowa and member of Congress from the state's 3rd District could be determined by what happens on Monday when Democrats gather for their off-year caucus. Attendees at the February 5th Iowa Caucus will kick off the caucus-to-convention delegate...
Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-controlled legislature have chosen to slash essential funding for Iowa universities, courts, human services and the prisons. Why are they refusing to consider a reasonable, common sense alternative to these painful and...
It’s nothing short of a miracle that the people of Iowa have not taken up pitchforks and marched on Des Moines demanding the attention of government officials. As things now stand, don’t be surprised if the folks in charge simply wait for the dust to settle and then...
The 2018 elections could see Democrats retake a chamber in the Iowa Legislature. But which candidates are best prepared financially to defend their seats? Starting Line compiled the fundraising totals of every incumbent and legislative candidate to find out. You can...
A trio of retirements announced in the past several days could have a big impact on who controls the Iowa House after the 2018 elections. Open seats always create more competition, and the retirements of Ken Rizer, Helen Miller and Clel Baudler could turn districts...
On a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, one year to the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration, close to 10,000 people gathered outside the Iowa State Capitol building for this year’s Women’s March. Thousands of activists, voters and concerned citizens came out sporting...
It took over $117,000 in spending for Republican Jacob Bossman to hold a house district that Donald Trump won by 30 points, but the Chuck Grassley staffer prevailed for his party by defeating Democrat Rita DeJong 55% to 44%. Still, Democrats improved by 19 points over...
Republicans are taking absolutely no chances in preventing a potentially demoralizing upset loss in this Tuesday's special election in Sioux City. Newly released financial reports show that the Republican Party of Iowa has now pumped just over $117,000 in all into...
Iowa Starting Line Podcast episode #2 begins with host Pat Rynard & guests Iowa House District 13 Representative Chris Hall of Sioux City & Iowa Citizen Action Network Executive Director Sue Dinsdale discussing Governor Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State...
