US Senate
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Scholten suspends US Senate campaign, endorses Turek
The Democratic primary to take on Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst in 2026 has narrowed. Just one week after announcing his bid, State Rep. Josh Turek got a big endorsement Monday morning. State Rep. J.D Scholten said he was suspending his own campaign to defeat Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst and instead vouched for Turek.…
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Paralympic gold medalist Josh Turek launches run against US Sen. Joni Ernst
The Iowa state representative, who won twice in Trump territory, is betting his story of overcoming adversity will resonate statewide. Josh Turek has never been afraid of long odds. Born with spina bifida after his father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Turek endured 21 surgeries by age 12. He then went on to win…
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Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego visits Iowa State Fair
Gallego is talking about Medicaid cuts with Iowans, potentially in an effort to boost his stature among national Democrats. US Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona arrives in Iowa this week in an effort to reach out to Democrat voters in the state. “I’m fighting for a future where health care is affordable and within reach.…
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Democrat Jackie Norris launches US Senate bid against Joni Ernst
Norris launched her campaign, positioning herself as a problem-solver focused on “invisible burdens” like the mental health and childcare crises facing Iowa families. Democrat Jackie Norris announced Tuesday she’s running to represent Iowa in the US Senate, becoming the third major Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Joni Ernst in what’s expected to be one…
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5 ways Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ would change life in Iowa
What happens when a 940-page law tries to reshape America? Let’s see how it would play out in the Hawkeye State. Iowa’s Republican Congressional delegation is primed to provide a stamp of approval to President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” despite the potentially devastating impacts it stands to have on Iowa. The legislation slashes…
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Ottumwa Job Corps program, training 240 at-risk youth, faces Trump axe
Despite its success, Ottumwa Job Corps is among the 99 programs the Trump Administration is shutting down. The closure eliminates over 100 jobs in small town Iowa, displacing the 240 at-risk youths served by the program. When Ajai Long finished high school, she found herself spiraling. Instability at home led her to couch-hop. Couch-hopping left…
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Zach Wahls joins field of hopefuls campaigning to unseat Joni Ernst
Iowa state senator from Coralville announced a run to take on Iowa’s junior US Senator. State Sen. Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) ended months of speculation Wednesday morning by announcing he will challenge Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst for her seat in 2026. The 33-year-old from Coralville told Iowa Starting Line that he is framing his campaign…
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The woman who prompted Ernst’s ‘We’re all going to die’ remark is running for Iowa House
The woman who told Sen. Joni Ernst that “people will die” if she votes to cut Medicaid said the senator’s mock apology a day later was “deeply insensitive” toward people who could lose health care. India May of Charles City is a registered nurse, a county death investigator, and a library director in Northeast Iowa.…
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Planned Parenthood closures leave one abortion clinic in Iowa
Planned Parenthood is contracting amid the federal government’s moves to freeze and reduce funding for OB-GYN care across the nation. Four clinics will close in Iowa. Planned Parenthood announced this month it is closing four clinics in Iowa, news that comes as Republicans nationally are preparing to defund the major provider of reproductive health services…
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Iowa pumps brakes on crypto ATM transaction fees
A new law caps daily crypto ATM transactions at $1,000, limits fees to 15% of the transaction amount, and requires operators to provide full refunds when customers can prove they’ve been scammed. The law also mandates written warnings for customers and gives Iowa’s attorney general authority to levy hefty fines against operators who violate the…
