Governor

Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in the 2026 Republican primary for governor. The Family Leader, a Christian conservative organization, is backing Adam Steen in the primary.

Five Republicans and one Democrat will appear as candidates for governor on Iowa ballots in the June 2 primary elections, according to the final candidate list released by the Iowa Secretary of State.

The state of Iowa’s spending is once again expected to exceed its revenue by about $1 billion in the next fiscal year as revenue declines due to state and federal tax cuts.

The U.S. Army Reserve said Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien died when an Iranian drone struck a command center in Kuwait. That attack killed six soldiers from the same Des Moines-based unit.

Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, died on the second day of the war with Iran when his unit in Kuwait was struck by an Iranian drone.

For years, Iowans have watched their property tax bills climb. Lawmakers are under intense pressure to pass something after failing in 2025, but some city and county officials worry these proposals will hurt their ability to pay for city services. In this episode, the mayor of Dubuque, former mayor of Carroll and the president of Iowans for Tax Relief provide their perspectives. We also hear from our listeners on the issue.

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.

During what may be her last Condition of the State, Gov. Kim Reynolds said our government needs to be reminded that "money doesn't grow on trees" as she eyes limits to municipal revenue growth. House Minority Leader Rep. Brian Meyer countered after her speech that Iowa is in a "fiscal death spiral" due to previous tax cuts. On this Politics Day edition of River to River, political analysts Dave Peterson and Jonathan Hassid help us dissect Iowa Republicans' legislative agenda, a growing number of independents and the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Gov. Kim Reynolds laid out her agenda for her final legislative session Tuesday evening, including a plan for $3 billion in property tax relief, requiring Iowans to swear they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote and banning certain food dyes from school meals.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced plans to ease some restrictions on federal education funding at a public school in western Iowa.