Campaigns continue virtually through the COVID-19 pandemic
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
April 1, 2020
Christina Bohannan was in the midst of knocking doors for her campaign for Iowa’s 85th House District when schools and businesses began to close in response to the COVID-19 outbreak around March 17. “I had my list and I was going up and down knocking doors on different streets,” Bohannan...
Johnson County was the sole Iowa county Elizabeth Warren won. Her supporters there react to her dropped 2020 bid.
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
March 5, 2020
University of Iowa fifth-year student Cesar Perez described the end of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign as heartbreaking and infuriating, saying she was the Democratic candidate with the most detailed policies. “Literally what people have to understand is people picke...
Johnson County sheriff launches bid for Iowa House District 73 seat
Rin Swann, News Reporter
February 27, 2020
After 35 years in law enforcement, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek announced Thursday he will run for the Iowa House District 73 seat, which encompasses all of Cedar County and eastern Johnson County. The chair is currently held by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, the son of Jeff Kaufmann, Iowa...
New Iowa Democratic Party chair has eyes set on November
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
February 17, 2020
Newly elected Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith said his top priority is electing Democrats up and down the ticket in November, assuming his role in a hotbed of controversy with a caucus process that is still under investigation. “Our goal is to defeat [Iowa’s Republican Sen.] Joni Ernst...
By the numbers: The figures that defined the Iowa caucuses
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
February 12, 2020
Before absent results from the Iowa caucuses caught national attention, candidates traveled across the state, racked up hundreds of campaign stops, and shoveled millions of dollars into local advertising. The Daily Iowan looked back at the numbers that defined the race for candidates in the lead up...
Iowa Democratic Party allocates the most national delegates to Pete Buttigieg despite uncertainty in the results
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
February 9, 2020
After updating data from 55 precincts across the state, the Iowa Democratic Party released results on Sunday showing former South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg leading the delegate count a week after caucus night. Buttigieg was allocated 14 national delegates, followed by Bernie Sanders with 12, El...
First-time caucusgoers wade into murky waters of Iowa politics
Charles Peckman, Senior Reporter
February 4, 2020
As the nation trained its eyes on the Hawkeye State Monday night for the Iowa caucuses, many University of Iowa students were exposed to the oft raucous nature of the first-in-the-nation caucuses for the first time. As colleges and universities throughout the state rallied behind their candidates ...
Sanders rallies last-minute support at Iowa City HQ stop
Charles Peckman, Senior Reporter
February 2, 2020
With a little more than 24 hours before the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. spent Sunday morning with supporters and a litany of volunteers at his Iowa City field office. During an event consisting of an acoustic rendition of Bob Dylan’s song “The Times They Are a-Changin'” and an e...
Bernie Sanders narrowly wins UI mock caucus over Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
January 31, 2020
Bernie Sanders narrowly clinched victory over Elizabeth Warren at a mock caucus at the IMU Friday night, where student campaign representatives sported bright t-shirts and banners from nearly every presidential candidate. Over 200 people attended the event ahead of the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses, ...
Despite tight budgets, UI students chip in to support 2020 bids
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
January 29, 2020
When U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the beginning of an impeachment inquiry against President Trump, first-year University of Iowa student Jack Bryson felt it was a critical moment for Trump’s campaign. Bryson, president of Hawks for Trump, decided to donate $5 to Trump for the first...
Caucus rule change could leave uncommitted caucusgoers stuck in a viable group
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
January 26, 2020
The Democratic caucuses serve as a place for Iowans to have an open discussion with their neighbors and fellow Democrats to try and convince them to support a given candidate. This long-standing tradition could have an unexpected wrinkle this year, Democratic campaigners say, because of a rule chang...
Interest in increased vaping regulations unclear among Iowa lawmakers
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
January 13, 2020
DES MOINES — As Iowa’s 2020 legislative session begins, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, said he’s unsure if there’s an appetite among Iowa lawmakers to tighten regulations on nicotine vapor products, weeks after U.S. Congress raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products. “I think...