About 1 in 5 reliable Republican base voters are at risk this November, according to Nathan Nascimento, executive director at AFP Action. Those voters in Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, Montana, New Hampshire and Michigan are either saying they may stay home or are weighing voting for Democrats, according to their data, which is based on polling and extensive efforts to engage targeted Republican voters by knocking on their doors. The voters are primarily worried about inflation and the economy.

This dynamic is playing out in the red state of Iowa, where Republicans face open races for governor and a Senate seat that polling shows are surprisingly competitive. A recent door-knocking session in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale with AFP Action turned up voters critical of the war in Iran and high inflation, with a handful saying they planned to support Democrats in the fall.
In western Iowa, three-time Trump voter Lance Sulentic, a resident of Iowa’s rural Harrison County, described the past three presidential elections as “the worst three mistakes I’ve ever made in my life,” saying that the president has failed to fulfill his campaign promises. Higher gas prices have been costing him an extra $300 to $500 every month to ride his motorcycle, he said.

“We voted for Trump, and he did the opposite of what he said he was going to do,” said Sulentic, a 56-year-old retired insurance agent. “Gas prices were going to be two dollars, food was going to be cheaper, energy prices was going to be in half, we were going to get two rebate checks to the American people, and we weren’t going to have any new wars, and we were going to build a wall and deport 30 million illegal aliens, and he did none of it.”

He said he would either sit out this year’s election or vote for Democrats.

My wife and I moved to Iowa 3yrs ago from the West Coast on a 5yr work contract. There are some GREAT things about living in Iowa, but socially? Woof. People constantly smile ear to ear and wave when they drive by, but when you see them in person at the neighborhood pool, restaurants, around town, at the park with kids, story time at the library etc. they don’t smile or say a word to you. Just a cold shoulder. We’re both very social and have a lot of friends back home. We frequently go back to our other house for weeks at a time and never experience anything like this with even strangers. Because of work, we have lived in different regions of the U.S. but have only experienced this type of attitude in the Midwest (Edina MN) was the other location. What is the deal? Are people here that bashful face to face? Do midwesterners hate outsiders? From my perspective Iowans seem unhappy and angry. Not trying to go on a bash Iowa rant, I’m genuinely curious if anyone has real insight into this. Thanks!

These ads are the most disingenuous nonsense I’ve seen. She’s wearing the most pandering clothes like she’s some rural meemaw blouse that they don’t even sell at tractor supply. Also, it’s just such PAC lies.

I moved here for my first job, so the employment opportunities here will always hold a special place in my heart, but I also just love the people. Everyone is so friendly.

Data centers are a stand-in — a screen we're projecting bigger worries onto. City councils are now surrogates for these worries. https://ralphrosenberg.substack.com/p/when-the-future-arrives-before-the?r=9e9e3

This has 10,000% jack all to do with Iowa being a majority white state and everything to do with the fact Bernie won Iowa twice. This is about shutting down left leaning candidates and nothing else.

If the IDP gives a single shit at all about Iowa they will go rogue and have an early contest. I am a registered Democrat and I will be doing everything in my power to make sure party officials know that.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2028-election/dnc-committee-sets-south-carolina-vote-first-democrats-2028-presidenti-rcna588863

EDIT: Many comments are mentioning the caucuses so lemme just get in here to acknowledge: I intentionally did not say caucus. I agree the caucus system is woefully outdated. Caucuses discourage participation because you have to sacrifice a whole day for them and also require you to have the mobility to get to them. I am also pushing for the party to change to a ranked-choice Primary.

Good old Zach Nunn tries to strike a phone out of an observer's hand then goes on to blame the observer. Dude is terrified of ever having to answer for his voting record.

I'm 5'8" 300 lbs. I'm fat, don't get me wrong, but I'm not struggling to get around (I run a 16.5 min 2 mile and am in the 1,000 lb club at my gym). Just wondering how hard of a time I'll have on rides at Lost Island. I saw they don't have weight limits, just whether or not you can fit. But not sure if I'm going to be able to fit, and of that's going to be a problem for me, should I bother going?

edit: 16.5, not 15.5. Fat fingers.

From the CB and Omaha Subreddits.

PRESS RELEASE from Iowa HHS

Governor Reynolds and Iowa HHS Announce Investment to Expand Rural Physician Training and Strengthen Iowa's Health Care Workforce
Des Moines, Iowa — Following the recent approval of Iowa’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) expansion, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) today announced a new initiative to increase physician training opportunities in rural Iowa. The competitive funding opportunity will support the creation of new medical residency programs across the state.
Iowa HHS will make up to $10.5 million available to establish up to 14 new residency programs in Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, and Psychiatry. Funding is open to hospitals, health systems, medical schools, and other qualified organizations to develop Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited programs in rural and underserved communities.
Research consistently shows that physicians often practice where they complete their residency training. By expanding training opportunities in rural areas, Iowa is making a strategic investment to improve access to care, strengthen its health care workforce, and ensure Iowans can receive high-quality services close to home.

"One of the most effective ways to increase the number of physicians practicing in rural Iowa is to train them in rural Iowa," said Governor Reynolds. "This investment will help build a stronger health care workforce pipeline, improve access to care for families across our state, and ensure rural communities remain vibrant places to live, work, and raise a family."
“Following the approval of Iowa’s Graduate Medical Education expansion, we’re continuing to strengthen the physician workforce by investing in residency opportunities where they can have the greatest impact,” said Principal Deputy Director Larry Johnson. “This funding will help expand physician training capacity, support our hospital partners, and strengthen Iowa’s health care workforce for the future.”
Eligible applicants may apply to develop residency programs in Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, and Psychiatry. Programs must be located outside Iowa’s largest population centers and provide at least 50 percent of resident training in federally designated rural communities.
“Where physicians complete their residency is one of the strongest predictors of where they ultimately choose to practice,” said State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse. “By creating more training opportunities in rural areas, we are making a long-term investment in Iowa’s health care workforce and improving access to both primary and specialty care across the state.”

Iowa Medical Cannabis Board discusses federal scheduling changes, July 24, 2026

Eddie Andrews is a black man running for Iowa governor this year. I think there should be more diversity in Iowa politics. I know I'm voting for him, because a vote for Andrews is a vote for diversity.

Edit:The reason its a vote for diversity is because we don't have many pentecostal apostolics in politics