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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — The scene in many ways resembled a surprise party for an older relative. Outside the otherwise nondescript home, cars lined the street, some going back so far that it made people walk quite a bit, testing their loyalty. Inside, the energy was one of a quiet fervor. Huddled in a […]

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — What do Iowans get in advance of the Iowa caucus? They get uncanny, unmatched access to presidential candidates–all 18 Democrats and 3 Republicans in the 2020 cycle. In addition to candidate visits to high schools, coffee shops, factories, union halls, and so much more, candidates visit with people in personal […]

DES MOINES, Iowa — On the day before the “Extreme Weather in Iowa” symposium hosted by The University of Iowa Public Policy Center, it rained over 3.5 inches in Des Moines. Shattering the October 1 record by over 2 inches, this extreme weather event exemplified the climate we are now facing in Iowa: variant temperatures, […]

If you try campaigning in Iowa and avoid agriculture policy, your campaign is not going to last long. Both Republicans and Democrats must focus on agriculture and frame the message appropriately to win over rural Iowa. Vice President Mike Pence landed Air Force Two in an Iowa soybean field Wednesday and flexed the muscle of […]

WAUKEE, Iowa — On October 19th, Vice President Mike Pence came to Manning Farms to talk about the Trump 2020 campaign and discuss the benefits of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA). Before arriving, I had no idea where the event would be. I was just given an address and drove there, not knowing what was […]

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Before I came to Iowa, my interactions with politics were mostly through the medium of television. I would watch as cable news stations broadcasted live coverage of a candidate surrounded by supporters in a huge stadium, field, or arena. Of course, this is a common way for Americans to view […]

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — I was expecting to discuss retirement security, but instead, I ended up “playing defense” for my hometown Chicago Cubs. Last week during what should have been an Iowa Caucus Project all-staff meeting, my colleagues and I made the spontaneous decision to trek over to West Des Moines for a house […]

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Caucus Project staffer Avery Van Den Berg and presidential candidate Marianne Williamson had a discussion on the campus of Drake University about the caucuses, issues that affect students, and even horoscopes. This is the first installment of a series where Iowa Caucus Project staffers discuss all things Iowa caucus with […]

In politics, it’s all about who you know. Being active in Iowa grassroots politics, I’ve met a lot of people, but perhaps two of the most fascinating and enjoyable are Bob and Sue Dvorsky. The couple resides in Coralville and has been married since the late 1980s. Together, they have created a legacy that will […]

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Growing up in Illinois, I never thought I would be able to just walk into someone’s home to hear a presidential candidate speak. I always imagined seeing candidates at big events with a stage, security, and tons of people there to listen. It would have been so weird to imagine […]