Governor

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican running for governor, said private schools should accept all students who want to attend, as Iowa continues providing state funding to help Iowans pay for private school tuition.

State Auditor Rob Sand — the only Democrat running for governor — is proposing term limits and cognitive tests for elected officials, along with changes to Iowa’s elections, as part of his plan to promote accountability in the state’s political system.

A proposal at the Statehouse would put new limits on the governor's emergency authority. Lawmakers for and against the legislation discuss what's behind this bill. Then, a bill at the Statehouse would bar new employment contracts with H1-B visa holders from certain countries. Later in the episode, we hear about a podcast from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach that explores significant changes farmers have made in their business models. (The third segment of this program was produced in November 2025.)

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Thursday that raises the tax on HMO health insurance plans to generate more money for Iowa’s Medicaid program. Democrats say the tax hike will raise some Iowans' health insurance premiums.

Republican candidate for governor Rep. Eddie Andrews spoke at a GOP fundraiser Thursday and accused Adam Steen, one of his primary election opponents, of lying about his campaign’s involvement with challenging Andrews’ place on the ballot.

Rep. Eddie Andrews, a Republican running for governor, will remain on the primary election ballot, while three candidates for other offices were kicked off the ballot after a state panel reviewed challenges to their nominating petitions.

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.