Stories

Who would have figured that, just before the election, GOP incumbent James Seymour’s 2002 arrest for soliciting prostitution would come to light? Democrats can call that one a lost opportunity. But by and large, Iowa’s major parties did a better job of filling spots on the state legislative ballot than parties in other states.

With only a week to go before Friday’s filing deadline, Iowa’s U.S. Senate race and five congressional contests remain two-way races. Announced independent candidates in the 2nd and 4th districts have not yet filed.

The Iowa House District 89 race once again features a young, first-time candidate against an older contender with deep community ties. But with the retirement of longtime incumbent Republican incumbent Sandy Greiner, the parties have reversed roles. It’s the Republicans who have the young candidate with Jarad Klein, while the Democrats have the older contender with Larry Marek.

An uncontested political race is like a forfeit in sports. It helps the won-loss record, but it’s no fun for the fans and, even though it’s the other team’s fault, feels vaguely unsportsmanlike.

There’s 125 ballgames this fall in the battle for the Iowa Legislature. More players may yet get on the field, but as of [...]

The school election this September 9 may be the last one in a general election year, if Governor Culver signs the election bill that passed the Iowa Senate this week.

Eastern Iowa legislators at a weekend League of Women Voters’ forum in Iowa City worked to shift the rhetoric on the collective bargaining bill.

School board terms are likely to lengthen to four years and special elections will be fewer and farther between, under legislation that has passed both houses of the Iowa Legislature. The proposed legislation would also test out “voting centers” in low turnout elections.

Three Iowa Legislative candidates quit their races before Wednesday’s withdrawal deadline, including the only primary challenger to an incumbent senator.

November may seem like a long way off, but many of the top races that will decide control of the Iowa Legislature have already taken shape.

The papers are stamped and filed in Secretary of State Michael Mauro’s office, and the lineups are set for the June 3 primary.  Let’s take a look at the contested primaries for the Iowa Legislature.