2026 Election

An Iowa soldier killed. A war in its fifth day. This episode, analysis of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran — and Congressional moves to check the president. Political scientists Jim McCormick and Kelly Shaw join the program to discuss these developments.

A look at the top political stories of the week, including library and abortion bills in Iowa, the primary race for Senate and the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Political scientists Karen Kedrowski and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University offer their analysis on the recent headlines.

John Norwood, a Democrat from West Des Moines, has entered the 2026 race for Iowa state treasurer. He pledges to safeguard Iowa’s financial future as he challenges Republican incumbent Roby Smith, who announced his reelection bid in December.

Four of the five Republican candidates for governor participated in a debate Tuesday night and said they would work to make Iowa’s abortion laws reflect their belief that life begins at conception.

In a visit to Iowa, President Trump rallied Republican support ahead of the midterms and tried to appeal to voters with provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill and by asserting his support for ethanol industry priorities.

Muscatine Democrat Taylor Wettach launched a bid for Iowa state auditor, dropping out of the race for the 1st Congressional District. He hopes to stand up to corruption and ensure the office operates independently to root out waste, fraud and abuse.

Wade Dooley, a farmer and owner of a custom seeding operation near Marshalltown, announced Tuesday his Democratic campaign for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

Former University of Iowa professor and Democrat Chris Jones announced he's running for Iowa secretary of agriculture. He will face a June primary against Marshalltown-area farmer, Wade Dooley.

Democrat Renee Hardman became the first Black woman to be elected to the Iowa Senate after winning a special election in the Des Moines area to replace the late Sen. Claire Celsi. Republicans saw the district as an opportunity to regain their supermajority, but Hardman had a decisive win in the historically blue district. On this politics day edition of 'River to River,' political experts Megan Goldberg and Rachel Caufield dissect this election, as well as reflect on the biggest political moments of 2025.

IPR's journalists rehash their most consequential moments of the last year — from raucous town halls to the arrest of Des Moines schools' superintendent. Assistant news director Grant Gerlock and reporters Katarina Sostaric, Natalie Krebs, James Kelley and Rachel Cramer bring us back through the biggest stories of 2025 and share what they'll be watching in the year to come.