Bill Dix was never as smart as he thought he was
Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix’s eighteen-year legislative career ended today after Iowa Starting Line published a video and photographs showing Dix and a lobbyist snuggling in a Des Moines bar on...
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Whitver, Schneider to lead Iowa Senate GOP; Failor out as top aide
Iowa Senate Republicans elected new leaders today following Bill Dix’s unexpected resignation on March 12. Jack Whitver moves up from Senate president to majority leader, and Charles Schneider moves up...
View ArticleLittle diversity in Iowa legislature, despite more women running than ever
More Iowa women are running for office in 2018 than ever before, which could lead to record numbers of female state representatives and senators next year. However, in other meaningful ways, Iowa’s...
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Iowa Senate district 25 preview: Tracy Freese vs. Annette Sweeney
Voters in Iowa Senate district 25 will elect a successor to disgraced former Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix on April 10. The special election campaign is happening on a compressed timetable because...
View ArticleFewer last-minute retirements from Iowa legislature in 2018
Fewer Iowa legislators kept their retirement plans secret until the closing days of this year’s filing period. As a result, constituents had several weeks or months to consider running for most of the...
View ArticleIowa legislative recap: Constitutional amendments
Iowa lawmakers went home for the year on May 5. In the coming weeks, Bleeding Heartland will catch up on some of the legislature’s significant work that attracted relatively attention. Two proposed...
View ArticleWe must do better
John Grieder is a Democratic activist in Waterloo. -promoted by desmoinesdem Like so many Iowa Democrats, I have watched this gubernatorial primary with a keen eye. With Terry Branstad leaving Terrace...
View ArticleWhere Iowa’s statewide candidates stand financially before primary
Many Iowa candidates filed their last financial disclosures before the June 5 primary on Friday. Those reports were required for anyone running for governor who raised $10,000 or more between May 15...
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Democrats face tougher path in two crucial Iowa Senate races
Prospects for Democrats to gain ground in the Iowa Senate took a sharp turn for the worse over the past week. The party’s best pickup opportunity became a more difficult race when GOP incumbent Rick...
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Reynolds, GOP killed way to reduce racial, economic disparities in Iowa courts
Governor Kim Reynolds made headlines last week with two vetoes: blocking language targeting the attorney general, and rejecting a medical cannabis bill that had strong bipartisan support in both...
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