KHOI's Capitol Week

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks covered many developments in the governor's race, including Rob Sand's lieutenant governor pick, first general election rally, and first negative ad about his GOP opponent, Zach Lahn. They also reviewed some of the reasons Lahn won (and Randy Feenstra lost) the GOP primary for governor. Other topics covered: the first post-primary poll of Iowa's U.S. Senate race, Ashley Hinson's first negative ad about...

Laura Belin and Mike Murphy walked through results from Iowa's June 2 primary elections, spending the most time on the governor's race, where there was a photo finish for Republicans. They talked about what went wrong for front-runner Randy Feenstra as well as the early general election arguments for Zach Lahn and Rob Sand. Other topics covered: the Democratic and Republican primary results for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, last minu...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent this entire episode on Iowa's upcoming state and federal primary elections, taking place on June 2. They began with the latest developments in the five-way Republican race for governor: polling, high-profile endorsements, and closing arguments for each candidate. They also surveyed the two-way Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate, competitive races in Iowa's four U.S. House distric...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began this Memorial Day episode by remembering four Iowans who died in military service in the Middle East over the past year. They spent most of the show on 2026 campaign news: the latest fundraising numbers for Iowa's candidates for governor and other statewide offices, the second debate for GOP candidates for governor, new endorsements and TV ads, and updates from the Senate Democratic primary. Fina...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent about half of the show on news from the campaign for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat: the second (and last) televised debate between Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, a new endorsement for Turek, new ads backing Turek, Wahls, and Republican front-runner Ashley Hinson, and outside spending on the race. They also covered the televised debate featuring the three Democrats running in Iowa's second Congressiona...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent most of this show on 2026 campaign news, starting with what Iowans need to cast early ballots for the June 2 primary and the first televised debate between Senate contenders Josh Turek and Zach Wahls. They covered notable endorsements, campaign visits, polls, and ads for Turek, Wahls, and several candidates running in Iowa's U.S. House races, an independent who is on track to qualify for the ball...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with the marathon finish to the Iowa legislature's 2026 session: the all-nighter at the capitol, culminating in the final agreement on property tax reform. They covered key parts of that bill and divisions among House and Senate Republicans—and among Democratic lawmakers—on the issue. The legislature adjourned without any action on eminent domain, but Republicans passed a bill limitin...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with ad buys and air time reservations in Iowa's U.S. House races, new ads for Republican candidates Adam Steen and Zach Lahn, Steve King endorsing Lahn, how the GOP candidates covered the weekend's four district conventions, and why the district convention delegates could be important. News from Congress: Chuck Grassley recovering from surgery, a planned briefing on Secret Service protocols, Iow...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from the Republican primary for governor: Randy Feenstra's latest ad and internal poll; a recycled endorsement; Feenstra and Zach Lahn declining a debate; Adam Steen's comments on debates, school vouchers, and Sharia law; and Steve King's take on the race. They discussed Rob Sand's new ad, canvassing strategy, and plan to legalize cannabis and THC beverages. Other campaign news: Josh Tu...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent most of the show on news from Iowa's 2026 campaigns: a poll shows Iowa as "competitive terrain," a forecaster calls the governor's race a toss-up, why Rob Sand's banking on educators, Randy Feenstra and Adam Steen spar over school vouchers, former Gov. Terry Branstad's advice for Feenstra, Zach Lahn's debut TV ad, VoteVets spending for Josh Turek, sparks fly between Turek and rival Senate candida...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with a big GOP investment in Iowa's U.S. Senate race, a look at other battleground races, worrying poll numbers for one Congressional incumbent, and unconventional policies advocated by gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand and Zach Lahn. They also noted the three Iowa Senate races targeted by a Democratic group and reflections on Jesse Jackson's 1988 Iowa caucus campaign. Other topics covered: Iowa ...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dug into last week's drama in the Republican primary for governor: Eddie Andrews surviving a challenge to his nominating papers and pointing the finger at rival candidate Adam Steen. Laura explained a state panel's decisions on other candidates facing challenges, and lessons learned from Iowa's 2026 ballot access problems. Other topics covered: the latest round of No Kings protests, Joe Mitchell's unco...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with candidates at risk of getting knocked off the primary ballot: Democrat Xavier Carrigan in IA-03, Republican candidate for governor Eddie Andrews, and GOP State Senator Mike Bousselot. They covered the latest taxpayer-funded radio ads from Mariannette Miller-Meeks, other campaign news from the first, second, and third Congressional districts, and recent endorsements in the Democratic primary ...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks spent half the show reviewing which Republicans and Democrats will be and won't be on the June 2 primary ballot for state and federal offices. Other topics covered: Donald Trump's PAC using a photo from the recent dignified transfer for a fundraising email, health care as an issue in Iowa's third Congressional district, the latest state revenue projections, early findings from state-funded research on ...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news related to the war against Iran: two Iowa soldiers killed and returned to U.S. soil, the Iowa delegation's votes and comments about the president's war powers, Governor Kim Reynolds' comments about the military campaign, and the Iowa National Guard stating that commanders do not speak in religious terms about military operations. In 2026 campaign news: Zach Nunn announced and postponed ...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the Trump administration's new military campaign in Iran and Iowa angles from last week's State of the Union address. They discussed several aspects of a big state government story: Governor Kim Reynolds has been traveling on an Iowa State Patrol airplane purchased with pandemic relief funds. Other topics covered: filing period begins for state and federal candidat...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with Iowa political reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump's tariffs. The rest of the show focused on news from the legislature, including details on the House and Senate Republican agreement on K-12 school funding. They discussed a group of bills designed to limit the next governor's power and following the legislature's first "funnel" deadline, they covered some not...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks dove into the shake-up in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate after Nathan Sage ended his campaign and endorsed Josh Turek. They discussed what Turek and Zach Wahls have in common, some well-known supporters of each candidate, the contrasts they will draw as they appeal to Democratic voters, a new poll hinting at a talking point for Wahls, and a separate poll testing each Democrat against likely GOP no...

Laura Belin and Spencer Dirks began with news from the 2026 campaign trail: big endorsements for Chris McGowan in the fourth Congressional district, Matt Windschitl dropping his IA-04 campaign, Adam Steen banking on social conservatives in the governor's race, a weak showing for Randy Feenstra at the GOP off-year caucuses, and the DNC clearing Iowa Democrats to compete for an early slot in 2028. They covered some news from Congress...