Investigation found no Heritage Action lobbying of Iowa governor
The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on August 12 formally closed its investigation of Heritage Action for America, after finding no evidence the national conservative group lobbied Governor...
View ArticleDemocrat Eric Van Lancker running for secretary of state
Iowa Democrats have their first confirmed candidate for secretary of state in 2022. Clinton County Auditor Eric Van Lancker announced on September 15 that he will seek the office, saying in a news...
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Republican pretexts for rejecting Iowa maps don’t hold up
As expected, Iowa Senate Republicans rejected the first nonpartisan redistricting plan on a party-line 32 to 18 vote on October 5. Everyone knows why the maps went down: national Republicans were...
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The Iowa court ruling that could stop a Republican gerrymander
Terror gripped many Iowa Democratic hearts when the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) announced it would release a second redistricting plan on October 21. Governor Kim Reynolds soon...
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First look at finalized Iowa maps, with incumbent match-ups
Iowa lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the Legislative Services Agency’s second redistricting plan on October 28, by 48 votes to 1 in the Iowa Senate and 93 votes to 2 in the House. Democrats had...
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First look at Iowa’s new House, Senate maps in cities, suburbs
Now that Iowa’s political maps for the next decade have been finalized, it’s time to look more closely at the district lines in and near larger metro areas. Although most districts anchored in cities...
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Roby Smith running against State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald
With a promise to help Iowa families “achieve their dreams, overcome challenges, and secure their future,” three-term Republican State Senator Roby Smith launched his campaign for state treasurer on...
View ArticleThe 21 most-viewed Bleeding Heartland posts of 2021
It’s time for another review of Bleeding Heartland’s most widely-read posts from the year that just ended. I always struggle a bit with this task, because the work I’m most proud of doesn’t always...
View ArticleWho’s who in the Iowa Senate for 2022
The Iowa Senate convened for its 2022 session on January 10 with 32 Republicans and eighteen Democrats. Twelve senators are women (seven Democrats and five Republicans), up from eleven women in the...
View ArticleLopsided governor’s race imperils whole Democratic ticket
The filing deadline for campaign finance disclosures is always an exciting day for political reporters. My plan for this week was to write a series of posts about fundraising and spending for each of...
View ArticleMidwifery licensure would improve maternal health, infant outcomes
Bethany Gates is a Certified Professional Midwife from Vinton (Benton County), where she lives with her husband, Judah, and their 4 daughters. Certified Professional Midwives are midwives who practice...
View ArticleOne Iowa lobbyist’s startling—but informative—admission
March 18 was the Iowa legislature’s second “funnel” deadline. Other than tax or appropriations bills, most legislation must have been approved by one chamber and at least one committee in the other...
View ArticleWhat the Supreme Court said—and didn’t say—in Finkenauer case
The Iowa Supreme Court surprised many in the political and legal worlds on April 15 with a unanimous judgment reinstating U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer to the Democratic primary ballot. Five...
View ArticleSmith outraising Fitzgerald in treasurer’s race. Will it matter?
State Senator Roby Smith is on track to outspend State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, if the latest reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board are any guide. A news release from...
View ArticleSix terrible bills Iowa Republicans didn’t pass in 2022
After a hectic two days at the capitol, the Iowa House and Senate finished their work for the year shortly after midnight on May 25. In the coming days, Bleeding Heartland will cover some of the final...
View ArticleExclusive: New Iowa absentee rules disenfranchised hundreds in 2022 primary
New restrictions on absentee voting prevented hundreds of Iowans from having their ballots counted in the June 7 primary election, Bleeding Heartland's review of data from county auditors shows. About...
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