We recorded the Iowa Down Ballot podcast a day late because we were all busy Friday (well into the evening) covering the legislature's special session.

So much to say about that (and the first debate in #IA04):

laurabelin.substack.com/p/iowa-down-...

#IA04 candidates Dave Dawson (D) and Chris McGowan (R) held first debate last night. Video:
www.ktiv.com/2026/09/30/w...

Here's the schedule for remaining Iowa debates:
#IAGov: Oct 6 in Davenport, Oct 14 in Sioux City, Oct 21 on Iowa PBS, Oct 27 in Cedar Rapids
#IASen: Oct 7 on Iowa PBS, Oct 13 on WHO-TV in Des Moines
#IA01: Oct 20 in Quad Cities
#IA02: Oct 8 on Iowa PBS
#IA04: Oct 14 on Iowa PBS
No debate in #IA03

Talked to @jdscholten.bsky.social about the backlash against Donald Trump in farm country and how this campaign feels different from 2018, when he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in #IA04.

Thanks to CSPAN for livestreaming GOP rally in Council Bluffs.
#IA04 nominee Chris McGowan speaking now.
www.c-span.org/program/camp...

New, by Bruce Lear: I’ve been involved in a lot of political campaigns, but I’ve never seen a candidate work as hard as Dave Dawson, and he does it with a smile. #IA04
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/09/07/i...