Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
The little-known 35 percent threshold for a nomination almost kicked in last night, and would have triggered a statewide convention for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.
Nearly complete returns show Christopher Reed with 35.3 percent, in a result that’s eerily similar to the 2002 GOP Governor’s race.The three candidates seeking the right to oppose Tom Harkin swapped leads through the night, and at one point were all bunched between 30 and 35 percent. In the end, Steve Rathje was at 29.9 percent, while former legislator George Eichhorn, a late recruit to the race, was second at 34.7 percent.
In 2002, all three Republican candidates for governor finished in the 30 percent range, and nominee Doug Gross topped the field with only 35.6 percent. That may have reflected divisions in the party, but last night’s result is more likely the product of low information about the three little-known contenders.
Reed enters the general election as a prohibitive underdog against Tom Harkin. That’s unusual for Harkin, whose four previous Senate races have all been hard-fought.
The last statewide convention after an inconclusive primary was in 1960, when Republicans nominated Jack Miller for U.S. Senate. In 2002, Steve King emerged as the front runner in a four-way congressional primary, but only had 31 percent; a district convention gave him the nomination.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter