Erin Murphy

On Iowa Politics Podcast: Randy Feenstra makes his gubernatorial campaign official Rep. Randy Feenstra finally makes his gubernatorial campaign official. Plus, we look ahead to next week's local elections and explore readers' questions about how elections officials catch fraudulent ...

We had some fun for our Halloween edition of the On Iowa Politics podcast, and as always, discussed all the big news on the beat. Carve your jack o' lantern, then carve out some time for a listen or a watch: www.thegazette.com/on-iowa-poli...

A clip from our On Iowa Politics Podcast Interview with Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (full episode up now): bsky.app/profile/theg...

The very first On Iowa Politics Podcast Interview is live! In my 1:1 chat with Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, we discuss his decision to not run for governor, whether he'll ever run for Grandpa's seat, what it's like being Speaker, and so much more.

www.thegazette.com/on-iowa-poli...

Iowa police can begin issuing fines for handheld phone use while driving starting Jan. 1.

Based on what I just observed waiting out a light at an East Village crosswalk, Des Moines Police are about to have an opportunity for a serious revenue infusion.

On Iowa Politics Podcast: Two Weeks in Iowa Politics Edition This week on the podcast, we'll discuss the Des Moines Superintendent situation, the federal government shutdown, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks talking town halls.

We missed last week, so we had ... yeah ... a lot of news to cover on this week's On Iowa Politics podcast. So check that out, and stick to the end for some big programming news. www.thegazette.com/on-iowa-poli...

I asked Sen. Joni Ernst after the Roast and Ride if she plans to endorse Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, and Ernst said “She has my full support and you can expect an official announcement soon.”

GOP former state legislator Jim Carlin also is running for the Senate in Iowa.

Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem arrive at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for Ernst’s annual Roast and Ride fundraiser.

Curious Iowa: Why did the Iowa capital move from Iowa City to Des Moines? Burlington and Iowa City held the capital designation in Iowa before Des Moines. In this week's Curious Iowa, The Gazette digs into why the capital moved to Des Moines, and which buildings served as t...

Another great edition of @thegazette.com's "Curious Iowa" (a de facto 'Ask The Gazette' feature), especially for folks interested in the government/politics beat. And I learned some new things in this. Great job as always by the venerable @baileycichon.bsky.social. www.thegazette.com/curious-iowa...

Former Des Moines superintendent no longer being held at Woodbury County Jail The jail roster for the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center no longer lists former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts as a detainee. He had been jailed there, by the federal government, since la...

Here's that story if you're a Gazette reader (wanted to share Sioux City's link first since it's their original reporting) ...

A potential development from Sioux City in the case of the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent: www.thegazette.com/federal-gove...

Former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts no longer being held in Woodbury County The jail roster for the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center no longer lists former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts as a detainee. But the website for ICE still shows Roberts as a Woodbury Cou...

A potential development from Sioux City in the case of the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent, from the Sioux City Journal: siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/c...

New Iowa House leader on working with fellow statehouse leaders: 'Iowans expect us to do a job' Mike Klimesh faces daunting challenges, in his own caucus and throughout the Capitol, as he steps into the role of Iowa Senate Majority Leader.

New Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh talked to The Gazette today about his new leadership role and some of the first challenges he will face. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Des Moines superintendent resigns while he challenges his deportation order, his legal team says Former Superintendent Ian Roberts had been under the impression from a prior attorney that his immigration case was "resolved successfully," said attorney Alfredo Parrish.

Des Moines Public Schools' superintendent has resigned while also challenging his deportation order, his lawyer said today during a press conference.

via AP: www.thegazette.com/education/de...

If you're wondering which political party is to blame for a potential federal government shutdown, boy howdy do I have just the inbox for you.

State panel revokes Des Moines superintendent's license following Friday arrest A state educational licensing board has revoked the license of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts following his arrest by federal immigration officers last week.

More action today from a state licensing board and the local school board in the wake of federal immigration officers' arrest of the Des Moines Public Schools superintendent: www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Eastern Iowa air traffic controller recounts 'most terrifying' landing he's experienced It was "the most terrifying thing" Nathan Mencke, an air traffic controller at The Eastern Iowa Airport, had ever experienced. One year ago, he helped guide a pilot out of a stall-spin to land safely ...

Every so often, because of content responsibilities off the political beat, I get to write stories like this. And oh man, should you read it. Intense, harrowing, uplifting. Great stuff here. www.thegazette.com/news/the-mos...

State to review Des Moines schools' hiring policies, Reynolds calls superintendent's arrest 'shocking' In her first extended statement since Friday's arrest of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Saturday called the incident "shocking" and said, "We must enfo...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, her administration’s education department, and Iowa House Republicans on Saturday said more about the arrest of Des Moines Public Schools’ superintendent by federal immigration officers. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

New Republican leader chosen for Iowa Senate Iowa Sen. Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, is the new legislative agenda-setting leader of the Iowa Senate, as selected by his Republican colleagues Wednesday

A new legislative agenda-setting leader has been chosen in the Iowa Senate. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a Culture War event at the University of Iowa memorial union in Iowa City on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (The Gazette)

Firing comes a week after Board of Regents discussed Caitlyn Spencer in closed session www.thegazette.com/higher-educa...

Garcia resigns as Iowa HHS Director, will be replaced by Iowa DIAL leader Kelly Garcia was the agency's director through the COVID-19 pandemic, its consolidation into the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and a redesign of the state's mental and behavioral healt...

Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia, leader of the agency that operates the state's Medicaid and public health programs, is resigning, Gov. Reynolds has announced. Garcia will be replaced by Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing Dir. Larry Johnson. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

MPR News names Clay Masters as next All Things Considered host Clay Masters has been covering state and national politics for MPR News since his arrival in January 2024. Before that, he worked for 12 years at Iowa Public Radio, 10 of them as a host of Morning Edi...

An absolutely outstanding journalist and an even better person. I could not be more proud of and happy for @claymasters.bsky.social. And Minnesota listeners will benefit. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Whitver to step aside as leader of Iowa Senate, will not seek re-election Jack Whitver, the Iowa Senate Majority Leader who has been battling a brain tumor for more than a year, will not seek re-election and will step aside as leader, he announced Tuesday.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver will step down as leader and not seek re-election in 2026. www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Just recorded this week's On Iowa Politics podcast. Should drop tomorrow a.m. I hope you do every week, but if you can, definitely make some time for this one.

Iowa's Mitchell announces U.S. House campaign to 'have President Trump's back' Mitchell, a 28-year-old property developer from Clear Lake, becomes the second Republican to officially declare a campaign in Eastern Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, which became an open-seat elect...

In the newly open #ia02, we have a second Republican candidate: former #ialegis lawmaker and Trump administration official Joe Mitchell: www.thegazette.com/campaigns-el...

Iowa's Ernst makes it official, will not seek re-election to third U.S. Senate term Saying it is time to give back to the family that has supported her during her career in public service, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in a video message announced Tuesday that she will not see...

Iowa Republican Joni Ernst announced today she will not seek re-election to a third term in the U.S. Senate.

* Ernst explains why
* Ernst's Senate tenure and election history
* What's next for Ernst
* Impact to Iowa's Senate election
* Reaction + more: thegazette.com/campaigns-el...

The Domino Effect One announcement single-handedly changed the entire look of the 2014 election season in Iowa, its impact felt from the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C., to the city of Dubuque.

As the youths like to say, today is giving ... www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-sta...

Iowa's Ernst makes it official, will not seek re-election to third U.S. Senate term Saying it is time to give back to the family that has supported her during her career in public service, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in a video message announced Tuesday that she will not see...

Iowa will have an open-seat U.S. Senate election in 2026; Republican Sen. Joni Ernst just confirmed this weekend's national reporting and announced she will not seek a third term. www.thegazette.com/national-pol...

Here's what Sand, Stauch would do about Iowa private school funding as governor Democratic gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand and Julie Stauch both say they would propose significant changes to the state program that provides taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 private school tuition.

What are the Democratic candidates for Iowa governor saying about how they would manage the state program that provides taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 private school tuition, including whether they would repeal it?

So glad you asked. thegazette.com/campaigns-el...

Scholten drops out of U.S. Senate campaign, endorses fellow Iowa lawmaker Turek J.D. Scholten is dropping out of the crowded Democratic primary in Iowa's U.S. Senate election, and endorsing fellow Democratic state legislator Josh Turek, who just announced his candidacy this past ...

And new just this morning, speaking of Iowa Democrats, J.D. Scholten announced he is withdrawing from the state's U.S. Senate campaign and endorsing fellow state legislator Josh Turek. www.thegazette.com/campaigns-el...

After a decade of defeats, some Iowa Democrats changing the way they talk to voters Iowa Democrats' campaign speeches sound different this year as the party attempts to win back voters they have lost in the state over the past decade.

ICYMI over the weekend:

Voters are telling Iowa Democrats they want something different from the party. Some 2026 Dem candidates are taking new approaches with voters. We spent much of the summer talking to voters, candidates and more for this story: www.thegazette.com/campaigns-el...

After a decade of defeats, some Iowa Democrats changing the way they talk to voters Iowa Democrats' campaign speeches sound different this year as the party attempts to win back voters they have lost in the state over the past decade.

Iowa voters are telling Democrats they want something different from the party. Are the candidates listening?

We spent the past few months talking to voters, candidates, party leaders and more as some Iowa Dems try out new campaign messaging this year. www.thegazette.com/campaigns-el...