Page 13 - Ras Smith News Today

JOHNSTON — Chuck Grassley has run seven U.S. Senate campaigns and won each, by a staggering average margin of 35 percentage points.

After much soul searching, the longtime senator from Dubuque determined, "My place is a strong voice in the legislative branch of government."

Several candidates, including some familiar faces from past campaigns, have announced their plans to seek higher office.

Laura Belin reviews the finalized Iowa maps for U.S. House and state legislature, which passed by wide margins.

Iowa state Rep.

While Iowa Democrats expressed solidarity with UAW members, GOP politicians avoided commenting on the John Deere strike.

Waterloo Deere workers hit the picket line at 7 a.m. Thursday.

The Iowa Department of Education previously said its “Social Justice and Equity in Education Conference” would be postponed until this fall. Early last spring, a department spokesperson said the conference—originally scheduled for April 14—was being postponed because of pending GOP-backed legislation that would put limits on teaching certain concepts related to racism and sexism.

Gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear spoke about her campaign, her policy priorities and the path forward for Democrats.

Des Moines, IA (AP) — Iowa voting rights advocate Deidre DeJear has announced she is running for governor. The 35-year-old Democrat gained attention in 2018 when she became the first Black candidate in Iowa to win a statewide primary election ahead of her unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state. DeJear joins state Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo among Democrats hoping to challenge Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds next year. Reynolds, who has been governor since 2017, is expected to seek reelection...