State Leaders
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Longtime Iowa Congressman Jim Leach dies at 82
In a political environment marked by partisanship, former US Rep. Jim Leach, who died this week, pushed back on his party’s acceptance of Trumpism.
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Democrats will return to Des Moines with legislation to feed Iowa kids during the summer
While it needs Republican buy-in, Democrats in the Iowa Legislature plan to reintroduce Summer EBT bill that would have Iowa put $29 million to work feeding 240,000 kids. Child hunger continues to plague Iowa. According to Feeding America, 110,500 children—or 1 in 6 children in the state—do not have enough to eat. But Iowa has…
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Amid pressure, Ernst says she’ll ‘support’ Hegseth through nomination process
After a tough week, Sen. Joni Ernst is suddenly warming to Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as US Secretary of Defense. This after intensive public campaign pressuring her to say ‘yes’ to the Fox News host. Since November, US Sen. Joni Ernst has been in the hot seat. For weeks, she’s been among the few…
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Iowa Republicans rage over Sen. Joni Ernst
Despite her popularity over the years, Sen. Joni Ernst is taking heat over holding up the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for top Pentagon position. Things aren’t going well for US Sen. Joni Ernst. She’s cultivated clout through her experience both in combat and as a military policymaker. But Republicans are going…
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MAGA activists call for Kari Lake to primary Joni Ernst over Hegseth nomination
MAGA activists threaten to primary US Sen. Joni Ernst over her hesitation in backing controversial Trump pick Pete Hegseth. And they’re looking at the Iowa roots of a certain Arizona politician to make it happen. Back in 2020, Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst celebrated a seven percentage point victory to the chant of “six more…
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Republicans maintain control in Iowa, see small gains on historic majorities
Despite some Democratic wins, Republicans carried the night. They maintain control of the Iowa Legislature and congressional seats. Going into Tuesday, Iowa Democrats had a lot to be excited about. A list of winnable seats in Des Moines. Two seats in Congress labeled “toss-ups.” And an Iowa Poll that suggested big wins for Democrats. But…
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Reproductive rights, education, lower costs: Iowa House Democrats’ 2025 legislative agenda
Iowa voters want their leaders to listen to what they want. And what voters want is key to the policy agenda for the 2025 legislative session announced Thursday by Iowa House Democrats in the state house.
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Iowa worker rights advocates, progressive orgs excited for Kamala Harris
Iowa worker rights advocates and other progressive organizations were mostly hopeful, if not outright excited, about the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic nominee for president. Unless you were falling out of a coconut tree since Sunday, you already heard the news that President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024…
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With Biden out, Iowa Democrats rally around Kamala Harris
Iowa Democrats unanimously endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination.
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Iowa’s statewide elected officials react to abortion ban
Iowa Republicans celebrated while Iowa Democrats lamented after the Iowa Supreme Court allowed the state’s six-week abortion ban to take effect on Friday.
