From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad yesterday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese governors from the provinces of Sichuan, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Shaanxi in Seattle, Wash. Their conversations were during the Third Annual U.S.-China Governors Forum and Dialogue, which was arranged by the Chinese Association […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa Public Information Board, the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, Register Media, IowaWatch.org, and the Iowa Newspaper Association will be hosting a celebration of freedom of information and open government Thursday, Oct. 8, in Des Moines. To register for the event, CLICK HERE. The […]

From Press Release   Monday, the Cruz for President campaign announced the addition of several Iowa, Georgia, and Nevada leaders and activists formerly allied with Governor Scott Walker who will now help rally support for Cruz. In Iowa, Phyllis Gannon of Greene County, Barb Pape of Clayton County, and Dean […]

Update 3: Loras Shulte, a member of the RPI State Central Committee, was said to have spen out strongly in support of the defund Planned Parenthood resolution. He explained why this morning.   By Bob Eschliman Editor   By a nearly unanimous vote, the Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central […]

From Press Release   Five U.S. governors, six Chinese governors and officials of both countries will meet at a forum on Tuesday afternoon in Seattle and will later meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss opportunities for collaboration on clean technology and economic development. Participants in the Third U.S.-China […]

From Press Release   Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released the following statement after the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan to address potential future outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: “I lo forward to thoroughly reviewing the USDA’s proposed plan to ensure our farmers and […]

From Press Release   Public meeting dates for the Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform today were announced after Gov. Terry Branstad announced the formation of the group at the Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities on Aug. 28.  The summit was organized by the Iowa-Nebraska State Conference of […]

From Press Release   U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement after the White House nominated Judge Rebecca Ebinger to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Grassley recommended Ebinger and Judge Leonard Strand to the […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad appointed David M. Porter as judge to the District Court in the 5C Judicial District to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Richard G. Blane. Porter, 38, of Johnston, currently serves as an Assistant Polk County […]

Current polling data, surprisingly, continues to match what we see on the ground in Iowa. As a result, we continue to feel confident there has been little change in the field — other than Rick Perry’s announced departure — headed into Wednesday’s second debate. We currently continue to project 140,000 […]

From Press Release   Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today was joined at the administration’s weekly press conference by Jason Shanks of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 and Duane Boswell of TMC Transportation to highlight the growth and importance of apprenticeships to their respective organizations.  U.S. Department of Labor data […]

From Press Release   Gov. Scott Walker today announced campaign leaders in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties, a show of strong and widespread support for his candidacy in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. With the backing of this county leadership team, Walker’s already robust, active organization grows as he campaigns […]

From Press Release   Jimmy Centers, who has served as communications director for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds since December 2013, and has worked for Branstad-Reynolds in various capacities since 2009, will depart the governor’s office to pursue a career in the private sector. Centers’ last […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey announced last week the state will receive funding for the new “Fueling Our Future 100” initiative from a competitive grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership program. This […]

From Press Release   Today, the Cruz for President Campaign announced dozens of additions to Sen. Cruz’s Iowa leadership team and county chairs coalition – comprised of Iowa activists and influencers who are taking an active role in the campaign.  The release also includes the first round of pastors joining […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today ordered flags be flown at half-staff 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow in remembrance of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Flags will be flown at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   At its next meeting, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, the Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee has on its agenda consideration of a resolution calling on Iowa Gov. Branstad and legislative Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood. The draft resolution, created by SCC member David […]

By The Iowa Statesman   According to Pottawattamie County Republican Party chairman Jeff Jorgensen, the party’s Central Committee met last night and voted overwhelmingly to call on the state’s elected officials to act on defunding Planned Parenthood. “Our resolution to defund Planned Parenthood passed last night at our Central Commite […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Republican presidential candidate former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum completed “The Full Grassley” earlier this week, stopping in Lyon County in extreme northwest Iowa to celebrate hitting all 99 counties. The fete, named for Iowa’s senior U.S. Senator, who has been traveling to all 99 counties […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the following statements after learning of the Iowa Board of Regents’ selection of a new University of Iowa President.  J. Bruce Harreld was selected as the new University of Iowa president and will succeed Sally […]

From Press Release   Sen. Chuck Grassley today was awarded the Dr. Harold D. Prior “Friend of Iowa Wind Energy” award by the Iowa Wind Energy Association in appreciation for his efforts in championing the wind industry. “I’m honored to receive this award.  In Iowa, wind produces 28 percent of […]

The Iowa Public Information Board   Iowa Code section 22.2 grants every person the right to examine and copy a public record.   This right includes “the right to examine a public record without charge while the public record is in the physical possession of the custodian of the public record.” […]

From Press Release   State Sen. Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines) has been selected to participate in a young leaders exchange program this month in China. He will be one of the representatives from the United States to attend the Chinese Association for International Understanding’s second annual Chinese-US-European Young Leaders […]

From Press Release   U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA 1) and FreedomWorks announced yesterday they will be joining together to host the Rising Tide Summit for grassroots activists to engage with presidential candidates on Dec. 5. “FreedomWorks has millions of activists across the country, and I am proud to partner […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Republicans from Boone and Story counties, as well as the College Republicans from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa will be tailgating at this year’s Cy-Hawk football game to be played at the newly remoed Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The party, which […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad yesterday announced appointments to Iowa’s STEM Advisory Council.  The following individuals’ appointments were effective immediately, are unpaid, and are not subject to Iowa Senate confirmation:   STEM Advisory Council: State Senator Mark Chelgren, Ottumwa State Senator Brian Schoenjahn, Arlington State Representative Liz […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Overnight, a second letter was submitted to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller with the names of additional legislators who have called on him to investigate abortion providers in Iowa to ensure no laws have been bren. The original letter, dated Aug. 24, states: We, the […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Now Republican presidential candidate former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has lost both of his state chairs to competitors. This time, however, there seems to be far less backlash from conservatives as Karen Fesler joins the staff of former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum as National Caucus […]

  By Bob Eschliman Editor   Tomorrow afternoon, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, will hold a ship-naming ceremony at Iowa State University for a new Virginia-class attack submarine. He will be joined in the Campanile Room at the Memorial Union at 3 p.m. by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   A key component of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s 2014 campaign pledge to expand broadband Internet access to areas of rural Iowa got a big boost recently, it was announced at his weekly press conference today. But, it will come at a cost to taxpayers of […]

It’s now clear that Democrats and Independents are flocking to the non-traditional Republican candidates. There are a lot of potential reasons why, but it’s safe to say traditional conservative Democrats feel like they’re being marginalized in their own party. This is boosting the candidacies of the non-traditional candidates. It’s also […]

From Press Release   Following the recent publication of the second round of Statewide Leadership Team members, the Cruz for President Campaign today released its first round of Iowa County Chairs. “Our Iowa team continues to demonstrate the strength and diversity of support we are seeing in Iowa and across […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad announced Friday the formation of the Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform at the Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities. The summit was organized by the Iowa-Nebraska State Conference of Branches for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   While the Branstad Administration continues to insist that “no item” exists in the state budget to directly fund Planned Parenthood, the fact still remains that the organization continues to receive funding through federal block grants administered by the state departments of Human Services and […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Well-known conservative documentary maker James O’Keefe today released a new undercover video shows evidence the Hillary Clinton campaign may be “playing fast and loose” with Iowa election laws, directly contradicting statements made to TIME Magazine. In the video, Hillary campaign organizer Sarah Sterner states, “We […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has announced the hiring of his Iowa state director, as well as the addition of new members to his grassroots leadership team. Aaron Trost will be Huckabee’s point man in Iowa. He managed the successful campaign of […]

From Press Release   The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum will host a commemoration ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. in honor of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the unconditional surrender by Japan, officially ending WWII. The public and media are cordially invited to attend this […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The head today in most mainstream news outlets is some variation of “Trump throws out Univision anchor” when, as one member of the media who was there noted, “Total nonsense. It should have been, ‘Unprofessional reporter crashes press conference.’” Prior to his campaign rally in […]

From Press Release   Monday, a group of Republicans from the Iowa House of Representatives and Senate ivered a letter to Attorney General Tom Miller, urging his office to investigate the practices of abortion providers in the state. The investigation was prompted after videos surfaced showing employees from abortion providers […]

The Iowa State Fair has come and gone, and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s “straw poll” proved to be a very eye-opening piece of information we have now factored into our calculations. Based on Donald Trump’s appeal beyond the traditional Iowa Caucus voter base, we’re still projecting 135,000 turnout, […]

From Press Release   The Office of Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today announced internal updates to staff. Larry Johnson, Jr., has been promoted to legal counsel to the governor and lt. governor. Johnson replaces Michael Bousselot who was previously promoted to Chief of Staff. Legislative […]

By The Iowa Statesman   On Saturday, a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft, the largest aircraft in the U.S. military inventory, will land at the Iowa Air National Guard’s Des Moines Airbase to pick up the Iowa National Guard’s 71st Civil Support Team for transportation of vehicles, equipment and […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   This morning, the Iowa House of Representatives Republican Caucus voted for a new leadership team during its summer caucus meeting. The vote was taken after outgoing Speaker Kraig Paulsen announced last month he would not seek re-election and would relinquish the chair prior to start […]

  By Bob Eschliman Editor   At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, the probability of nationally syndicated talk radio host Steve Deace endorsing Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was somewhere north of 99 percent. About 15 minutes later, the deal was done. “[Cruz] is a man of courage and […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today the launch of Iowa Culture, a new interactive mobile app that puts the largest, most comprehensive statewide collection of Iowa arts, history and cultural destinations in the palm of your hand. “I travel to all […]

The post-debate polling has finally worked itself out, and the candidates are beginning to jockey for a position on the next debate stage. It’s clear the first debate helped a few, hurt several, and really didn’t do anything to the frontrunner. We’re still projecting 135,000 turnout, if the Caucus were […]

From Press Release   Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced on CNN’s “State of the Union” his comprehensive Iowa “Team Huck” grassroots leadership organization. “We’ve built a comprehensive leadership organization and grassroots infrastructure, which is a powerful network of activists, local leaders, homeschoolers, pastors, veterans and ordinary American patriots […]

From Press Release   Thursday, the Cruz for President campaign announced that the Bontrager Family Singers of Kalona will make a special appearance at the Rally for Religious Liberty on August 21 in Des Moines. “I am honored and excited to have the Bontrager Family Singers at our rally for […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today held the first of a series of roundtable meetings across the state to focus on ways to better align education and workforce initiatives to close the skills gap and meet future employer needs. The roundtable series […]