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🚨WATCH: Democrat Josh Turek releases advertisement opposing transgender men in women’s sports, and taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries, drawing Republican support and Democratic backlash. “As a Paralympian, I know it’s important to have rules. It’s why I oppose males competing in female sports, something that is already illegal in Iowa. It’s why I oppose taxpayers funding sex changes, too.” 📸SOURCE: @AdImpact_Pol via X (Twitter)

AMES, Iowa – Senator Rand Paul brought his signature message of limited government and individual liberty to Ames on Monday night, packing Torrent Brewing Company for a town hall with Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn and offering his official endorsement. The crowd was so large that organizers had to open an overflow space, turning the event into a standing-room-only show of enthusiasm just a week before Election Day. Paul introduced Lahn as “your next governor,” and voiced clear confidence in the race, questioning recent polls that show Lahn trailing Democrat Rob Sand, and pointing instead to strong early Republican voting numbers across the state. For Lahn, the appearance made a high-profile boost from one of the Senate’s most consistent constitutional conservatives, as he pushes a platform centered on food freedom, protecting family farms, and putting Iowa first. Paul used the moment to explain the importance of electing leaders who will defend personal freedom and push back against overreach, which are themes that align closely with Lahn’s own message. Paul also stated that Lahn was the only candidate he wanted to campaign for, this cycle. Lahn told the packed house that the turnout itself was proof of a real movement, and stressed the need for every supporter to get out and vote. With Paul standing beside him in Ames, Lahn received a powerful late endorsement from a national figure known for backing candidates who put principle over politics. The overflowing crowd and Paul’s enthusiastic endorsement sent a clear message that Lahn’s campaign is set to finish strong in November. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: @RandPaul via X (Twitter)

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Des Moines Register’s editorial board handed its U.S. Senate endorsement to Democrat Josh Turek on October 25, continuing a streak in which the paper has refused to back a statewide Republican for well over a decade. The board praised Turek’s Paralympic background, his work on disability issues in the Iowa House, and his focus on agriculture and kitchen-table concerns, while making no secret that the real priority was electing a Democrat to oppose President Trump. What made the move notable is that it came just days after Turek released a campaign ad drawing clear lines against the left’s belief in transgenderism. In the ad, the Council Bluffs lawmaker and 2-time gold medalist said he opposes biological males competing in women’s sports and is against taxpayers funding sex-change procedures, adding that anyone claiming otherwise is lying. That position immediately drew fire from progressive activists, as well as many Democrats who accused Turek of betrayal, yet the Register still fell in line and endorsed him anyway. Many believe the decision reveals more about the paper’s inherent liberalism than any genuine openness to moderate views. For years, the Register has treated Democratic candidates as the default choice regardless of the issues, and this endorsement fits the pattern perfectly. Turek, by contrast, is showing he is willing to stand against the most extreme demands of his own party’s activist wing. In a state that values fairness for female athletes and responsibility with taxpayer dollars, his refusal to bow to left-wing pressure looks less like a liability and more like the kind of independence that Iowa voters actually respect. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: Turek4Iowa Official Website

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Democrats are once again scraping the bottom of the barrel, digging up a nearly decade-old video of Joe Mitchell from when he was a 19-year-old college kid at Drake University in 2017. In the clip, a clearly intoxicated Mitchell can be heard making rambling comments typical of late-night dorm activities, talking about girls, joking around with friends, and saying some over-the-top things no sober adult would stand by. Watch the Full Video Here: A deceitful woman who was friends with Mitchell in college reportedly came forward with the video to the Daily Mail, saying that voters deserved “the full picture” of the candidate they were electing. Mitchell has already owned it and pointed out the obvious, in that he was 19, in college, and has grown up since then. Yet Democratic operatives and the Iowa Democratic Party are pushing the video hard as if it’s some kind of smoking gun, complete with press releases and social media pile-ons in the final days of a competitive race. This is the kind of cheap, desperate politics that shows just how little substance Democrats have left to offer Iowa voters. Instead of debating Mitchell’s record, his endorsement from President Trump, or his ideas for the 2nd District, they’re hoping that voters forget that virtually every young person says and does dumb things when they’re drunk in college, especially young Iowans. The selective outrage and character assassination directed at a young White man who’s built a business, served his community, and stepped up to run for office reeks of the same tired playbook Democrats always pull when they can’t win on the issues. Iowans deserve better than these cheap, shameful tactics. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: @OppoDrop via X (Twitter)

WATCH: Resurfaced video shows @joemitchelliowa on a vulgar, racist rant:

JOHNSTON, Iowa – Rob Sand first pulled out of the third scheduled gubernatorial debate for Iowa Press on Iowa PBS after the tragic death of his brother-in-law, Walter Lauridsen. That decision made sense at the time, and Republican Zach Lahn responded with understanding and offered to work on a new date. The two candidates had already agreed to 4 debates total, something Sand himself had pushed for earlier in the race. When a rescheduled slot on October 29 became available, Lahn quickly accepted it so Iowa voters could hear both sides one more time before Election Day. Sand then turned around and refused, leaving the October 27 KCRG debate as the only remaining matchup. See Zach Lahn’s Response Accepting the Offer Here: See the Des Moines Register’s Announcement After Sand Rejected the Offer: At this point, Sand’s refusal looks less like a scheduling conflict and more like an attempt to limit how often he has to stand next to Zach Lahn. Lahn has shown up ready for every debate, defended his record, and kept pushing for the full slate of 4 forums so voters could clearly see the contrast between his conservative vision and Sand’s liberal approach. By walking away from the extra debate after Lahn agreed to the new date, Sand is cheating out Iowans who deserve as much discourse information as possible. The Tuesday, October 27 debate will now be the last chance for voters to watch the 2 men go head-to-head, and Lahn is the one who has consistently shown he’s willing to do the work. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: Rob Sand for Governor

🚨 BREAKING: Zach Lahn has officially accepted the invitation from Iowa PBS to reschedule last week's cancelled debate for next Thursday October 29.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek is catching heat from the far-left wing of his own party after releasing an advertisement that rejects the radical transgender agenda. In the commercial, the 2-time Paralympic gold medalist and Iowa state representative stated clearly that, “As a Paralympian, I also know it’s important to have rules. It’s why I oppose males competing in female sports, something that is already illegal in Iowa. I’m against taxpayers paying for sex changes too.” Progressive activists immediately piled on. User @wmforbernie called him “one of the less impressive senate candidates” for running “transphobic ads.” User @rowanfornow labeled Turek’s support for a federal funding ban a “perfect capstone” of Democrats abandoning the cause. User @OnlySkyKimi declared him “just a genuine transphobe.” User @notbubbawallace blasted “fuck josh turek and fuck the democratic party for enabling this transphobic garbage.” The Des Moines Register even subsequently released a Letter To The Editor piece titled “Josh Turek throws trans Iowans under the bus.” Turek believes that his stance is common sense and basic fairness. A man who has competed at the highest levels of adaptive sports understands better than most why rules based on biological reality matter for fair competition and safety. By refusing to bend the knee to the loudest activists demanding that boys play in girls’ sports and that public money bankroll irreversible medical interventions, Turek is showing the kind of independent backbone Iowa voters need, that candidates like Rob Sand are trying to emulate. The online left may scream about “transphobia,” but the quiet majority of regular people, Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike, know the difference between protecting vulnerable women and girls, and indulging a radical ideology that denies biology. In the end, this race will not be decided by activists. It will be decided by Iowa voters who still believe in fairness, fiscal responsibility, and reality. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: Turek4Iowa Official Website

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – President Donald Trump packed the Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City on October 22 for a high-energy midterm rally just days before Election Day. More than a thousand supporters filled the venue, with overflow crowds outside, as the President delivered a speech lasting over 90 minutes focused on border security, support for farmers, lower energy costs, and the need to elect strong Republicans. Joining him on stage were Senator Chuck Grassley, U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn, Attorney General Brenna Bird, and congressional candidates including Chris McGowan and Joe Mitchell. Trump praised the ticket, called Hinson “fantastic,” urged the crowd to elect Lahn as the next governor, and reminded Iowans that turning out for the full Republican slate was essential to keep the country moving forward. One of the night’s standout moments came when Joe Mitchell, the Republican nominee for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, stepped forward to present President Trump with a special “Man of the Century” award he had created. Mitchell told the roaring crowd that Trump had kept America safer than any president in history and that the failure to award him the Nobel Peace Prize was a disgrace. Holding up the framed certificate, he declared that Trump has done more for humanity and for America than any other president, and thanked him for being the greatest president the country has ever had. The gesture captured the deep loyalty felt by so many in the room, and showed Mitchell’s clear commitment to standing with the President who has delivered results for Iowa families. Trump will be returning to Iowa for one last rally before the Midterms on Sunday, November 1, in Dubuque. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: @joemitchelliowa via X (Twitter)

DUBUQUE, Iowa – President Donald Trump is heading back to Iowa for a high-energy midterm rally in Dubuque on Sunday, November 1, just 2 days before Midterm Election Day. Fresh off a successful stop in Sioux City, the President will speak at 6 PM after doors open at 2:30 PM, with the program getting underway at around 4:30. The exact location is still being finalized, but tickets are already available through the official RSVP at Dubuque sits in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Joe Mitchell is battling Democrat Lindsay James for the open seat left by Ashley Hinson’s Senate run. This stretch of eastern Iowa along the Mississippi was long Democratic territory until Trump flipped it in 2016, and Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann even said himself that the region “literally became red because of him.” Now the President is returning to thank those voters and fire them up one more time. In places like Dubuque that turned red because they finally had a leader fighting for American jobs, secure borders, lower costs, and an end to the failed policies of the past, the energy is raw and authentic. Trump is trying to deliver results and make sure the people who put him in the White House keep sending strong Republicans to Congress and the statehouse. For every Iowan who wants a country that puts them first, November 1 in Dubuque is a chance to show up, stand with the President, and finish the job. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Board of Regents has chosen Carson Holloway, a seasoned political science professor and department chair at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as the first permanent director of the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom. A University of Northern Iowa graduate with a doctorate from Northern Illinois University, Holloway has taught at UNO since 2002, where he also founded a constitutional studies forum and has served as interim philosophy department chair. His scholarly record includes books on the American founding, such as Hamilton versus Jefferson in the Washington Administration, and visiting fellowships at Princeton’s James Madison Program and the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Principles and Politics. These credentials make him an ideal fit for the CIF, the independent academic center created by state law in 2025 to expand intellectual diversity, teach the foundational texts and debates of free societies, and deliver rigorous courses in American history and civil government. Holloway steps into the role at a pivotal moment for the Center for Intellectual Freedom, which reports directly to the Board of Regents and stands outside ordinary university administration. Beginning in the 2028-29 academic year, every University of Iowa undergraduate will be required to complete 6 credit hours of CIF coursework as a graduation requirement, giving the new director a clear mandate to build high-quality offerings that strengthen civic knowledge and open inquiry. With deep expertise in political philosophy, constitutionalism, and the principles that created the American experiment, Holloway is in a great position to fulfill the legislature’s vision of a genuine home for intellectual freedom on campus, one that prioritizes serious engagement with the Western tradition and the American constitutional order over ideological conformity. His appointment signals a serious commitment to making the CIF a lasting success for Iowa students. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: UI Facilities Management Website - Calvin Hall

🚨WATCH: Political Commentator Nick Fuentes urges voters to vote Democrat in all midterm elections nationwide, but makes an exception for Zach Lahn in the Iowa governor’s race, during his Wednesday night show. “Please vote Democrat, in every state, in every election, except for Iowa governor, vote Republican there.” 📸SOURCE: America First with Nicholas J. Fuentes via Rumble

MONTROSE, Iowa – Matt Mohrfeld, the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 100 and former Fort Madison mayor, showed his true colors on sex and privacy during a candidate forum in Montrose hosted by the American Association of University Women. With his Republican opponent Blaine Watkins absent due to harvest, Mohrfeld faced questions on transgender issues and drew a line that puts people at risk. He said he would not allow “a man” into a women’s restroom, but would permit a “fully transitioned man that became a woman.” Watch the Full Voice Recording Here: He insisted these individuals “are not pedophiles. These are not perverts. These are people that are trapped in what they are going to determine as the wrong sex,” adding that society must respect those who fully transition. The stance directly conflicts with Iowa’s existing laws requiring restroom and locker room use based on biological sex in schools, and the 2025 removal of “gender identity” as a protected class, which are measures designed precisely to preserve single-sex spaces for women and girls. Mohrfeld’s comments show a willingness to let biological males who have undergone medical transition into women’s private facilities under the soft language of “respect” and “acceptance.” Allowing any males into women’s restrooms undermines the safety, privacy, and dignity those spaces were created to protect, especially with regard to children. Iowa voters in District 100 already have clear state policy rejecting self-identification for bathrooms and sports. A candidate who softens that standard while assuring audiences that transitioned males are neither predators nor perverts is asking women and children to set aside legitimate concerns for an ideology that prioritizes identity over safety. Southeast Iowans deserve representatives who defend biological reality rather than lecturing them that basic privacy concerns are somehow bigoted. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: Matt Mohrfield for Iowa House Website

🚨WATCH: Matt Mohrfield, Democratic State Rep. candidate for District 100, explains why he believes transgender men should enter women’s bathrooms during a Q&A forum in Montrose, Iowa. “These are not pedophiles. These are not perverts. These are people trapped in, what they are going to determine, as the wrong sex.” 📸SOURCE: Full Transcripts at

AMES, Iowa – Natalie Gibson, a junior animal science major at Iowa State University and Ames resident with a valid non-professional Iowa permit to carry a firearm, is standing up for her Second Amendment rights by suing the City of Ames over CyRide’s longstanding ban on guns aboard its buses. Filed on October 13 in Story County District Court, her lawsuit argues that the policy, in place since at least 2011, violates Iowa’s strong firearms preemption law, which stops cities and other local governments from regulating the possession or transportation of firearms. Gibson has respected the ban so far while relying on the city-owned transit system that serves the sprawling ISU campus, nearby neighborhoods, businesses, and student housing, but she wants to exercise her lawful right to stay armed for self-defense. The Iowa Firearms Coalition put the city on notice a year earlier that the rule broke state code, yet Ames has clung to it by pointing to the buses’ routes through university property, where ISU prohibits firearms. Her attorney, Alan Ostergren, correctly notes that nothing in the law lets a university policy override a permit holder’s ability to carry while simply riding through campus in a vehicle. She’s asking the court to declare the CyRide ban unenforceable, issue an injunction to stop the city from enforcing it, and award statutory damages, potentially up to $25,000 plus attorney fees for the knowing violation. Law-abiding permit holders should not have to disarm just because a city bus crosses campus lines, and Gibson’s challenge pushes back against an overreach that undermines the very self-defense rights the state legislature has worked to safeguard. In a time when personal safety matters, especially for people navigating campus and city routes, her lawsuit affirms that the right to keep and bear arms doesn’t stop at the bus door. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at newsroom@iowafirstmedia.com. Photo: CyRide Website

🚨WATCH: Rob Sand comes out in favor of H1-B visas, and importing foreign nationals into our workforce and universities, while accidentally referring to his “foreign” colleague from Hawaii, during the second gubernatorial debate against Zach Lahn. “We got a lot of work that we need to have done in Iowa, we’re one of the slowest growing populations in America, and we need to make sure we’re not closing the door on people who want to be here.” 📸SOURCE: KWQC News via YouTube

WATCH: Zach Lahn vows to ban H1-B visas and restrict foreign labor in Iowa, particularly for jobs in the new steel mill, during second gubernatorial debate against Rob sand. “We have people in our state who are hurting, looking for work, and looking for training, and we need to be investing in the citizens of our state, and in our country.” 📸SOURCE: KQWC News via YouTube

🚨WATCH: Zach Lahn gives his closing statement in the first gubernatorial debate against Rob Sand, claiming he bought his way to victory in the last auditor race through millions in family campaign funds. “In the last election, when he was running for auditor, he outspent his opponent 30-1. For every $10,000 they spent, he spent $300,000. He bought an election.” 📸SOURCE: KCRG-TV9 via YouTube