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Republicans nominate Jeremy Davis to run for state treasurer (AUDIO)

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Jeremy Davis

A former Ames City Councilman is now the Republican challenging long-time State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat. Jeremy Davis was nominated this past weekend by delegates at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention.

“When I was first contacted by Governor Reynolds to consider this, I didn’t say, ‘Yes,’ right away because I needed to think about it,” Davis said Saturday. “…I talked to friends, but more importantly, I listened to my family and I listened to my heart and I listened to God.”

AUDIO of Davis’ nomination and speech, 5:00

Davis, who grew up on a Jones County farm, worked in Congressman Steve King’s Ames office and is now director of grassroots programs for the National Pork Producers Council. Davis has run for office twice before — an unsuccessful bid for the state senate in 2014 and, in 2009, when he won a term on the Ames City Council.

“I believe one of the most important things about being state treasurer is that we need to have 100 percent transparency when it comes to our financial operations of government,” Davis said. “I believe that it is inappropriate that the current state treasurer has utilized public funds to promote programs that he administers leading up to an election.”

Fitzgerald’s office has paid to advertise the “College Savings Iowa” program and the “Great Iowa Treasure Hunt” which seeks to connect Iowans with unclaimed property. A spokesman for Fitzgerald’s campaign says no tax dollars have been used in the advertising, because both are “self-sustaining programs.”

Fitzgerald briefly spoke to delegates at the Democratic Party’s state convention last weekend.

“Dmeocrats need to assert themselves and Iowans know it because the Republicans have been so irresponsible at all levels,” Fitzgerald said. “You know, the state budget — it’s a mess. It’s a real disaster.”

AUDIO of Fitzgerald’s speech, 3:00

Fitzgerald, who is seeking a 10th term as state treasurer, said Republican control of the statehouse has had “terrible consequences.”

Tom Miller, a Democrat who has served as the state’s attorney general for 35-and-a-half years, is also seeking reelection, but will not face a Republican opponent this fall. Libertarians nominated Marco Battaglia of Des Moines to run for attorney general. Battaglia unsuccessfully ran for governor on the Libertarian ticket on June 6th.

King says ‘nothing cruel’ about separating kids from parents at southern border

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Republican Congressman Steve King has been an active tweeter today, urging people to call congress and voice their opposition to bills that would provide what King calls “amnesty” to anyone who entered the U.S. illegally.

King tweeted out a link to an interview he did with TMZ about the separation of children from parents crossing illegally at the southern border. King told the TMZ cameraman there is “nothing cruel” about the way the children are being treated and they are not being held in cages.

King has toured detention centers near the southern border before. The use of chain link fencing is needed, King has said, to separate the boys from the girls.

King also said on Twitter today that the only way to stop what he describes as a “flood of illegals” is for the U.S. to deport “substantially more…than the number of those who arrive seeking amnesty.”

 

 

Senator Grassley calls for repeal of agreement that allows family separation at the border

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Senator Chuck Grassley. (file photo)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining the growing chorus of Republicans who are denouncing the Trump Administration’s so-called “zero tolerance policy” to separate children from parents who cross the border illegally.

Grassley says the Flores Agreement, approved in 1997, stated children who were part of detained families could legally be separated for up to 20 days. Grassley says, “I want the Flores Agreement repealed so that we don’t have family separation because I don’t think we should have family separation and we don’t need to have.”

Senators Dianne Feinstein and Ted Cruz are offering separate pieces of legislation that address the administration’s policy on dividing families. Grassley isn’t yet ready to commit to backing either of them, but says he’d support a measure that eliminates the Flores Agreement. “These bills will probably do that,” Grassley says. “They might do more than that but what more they do, I don’t think is necessary, but I’ll comment on those when I read them.”

Reports say in the past few weeks, more than two-thousand children have been separated from their parents or guardians at the U.S. border with Mexico. Many are being housed in camps in Texas, including tent cities and one camp that’s inside a former Walmart. Grassley says any legislation that passes also needs to address funding.

“The Department of Justice needs more resources to handle the increased number of people that are in detention, particularly, more judges to speed up the process,” Grassley says, “because justice that’s slow is not necessarily fair.”

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is joining 20 of his counterparts from other states in calling on U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security leaders to end what Miller calls the “cruel and illegal actions against children and families lawfully seeking asylum” in the U.S. Miller and the other attorneys general say the practice of separating families is contrary to American values and should be abolished.

 

Reynolds says children being used ‘as pawns’ in immigration impasse

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Governor Kim Reynolds.

Governor Kim Reynolds is calling on federal lawmakers in both parties to resolve the impasse over immigration policy. Her remarks to reporters this morning come amid a growing national debate about whether children should be separated from their parents who illegally cross the southern U.S. border.

“Children are being used as pawns in this situation and I don’t think that that’s the right thing to happen,” Reynolds said this morning. “I’m a mom and a grandma and what I believe is that congress needs to do their job. They need to get back and they need to work with the executive branch.”

The Republican governor of Massachusetts yesterday cancelled the deployment of National Guard troops and equipment from his state to the southern border. A spokesman for the Massachusetts governor said the move was because of “the federal government’s current actions resulting in the inhumane treatment of children.”

Reynolds stopped short of calling on President Trump to end the policy. “This isn’t a partisan issue. We need everybody working on this. We need congress to get back to Washington, D.C. and put an end to this,” Reynolds said. “We need to provide stability for families that are living in a very unstable situation. We shouldn’t be separating children from their family, but we are a nation of laws, so we need congress to act. We can get it done this week.”

There are two bills pending in congress to address the issue and Reynolds indicated passing either is preferable to passing nothing.

“It’s just horrific that children are being used as a pawn in this situation,” she said.

The Iowa National Guard has not been called to mobilize for immigration enforcement, according to the governor.

“So I think we need to wait and see what they’re asking of the National Guard and so we’ll respond at that point,” Reynolds said.

On Monday, officials announced about two dozen Wisconsin National Guard troops were heading to Arizona to assist in border security, with more to be deployed in the coming weeks.

Congressman King, challenger Scholten focus on trade concerns (AUDIO)

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Congressman Steve King is urging his fellow Republicans who are “apprehensive” about President Trump’s trade talk to give Trump “time and room” to make some deals.

“I’ve been asking for years for a president who would play brinksmanship who was also an enigma,” King said Saturday. “It’s really a powerful position to have when you’re doing foreign trade and negotiations and geopolitical maneuvers of all kinds. Well, we elected Donald Trump and I think we got both of those things.”

King made his comments this weekend at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention.

AUDIO of King’s speech, 6:44

King predicted there will be a “red tsunami” this November. King also spoke up for the nation’s embattled attorney general who’s drawn Trump’s ire at time and who has defended the policy separating children from parents entering the country illegally at the border.

“I’m a supporter of Jeff Sessons. He’s a noble man,” King said. “He believes in the Bible and the Constitution and in the rule of law.”

King’s Democratic opponent, J.C. Scholten of Sioux City, rallied with delegates at the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention this weekend.

“Who’s ready to beat Steve King?” Scholten asked, getting a big cheer from the Democratic delegates. “Now my second question: ‘Who thinks this race is unwinnable?’ Because that’s what I’ve been told every day since I launched my campaign back in July and I’m sick of it. I’ve modeled my campaign after two of my political heroes: Tom Harkin and Berkely Bedell.”

Harkin and Bedell — both Democrats — are former congressmen who represented many of counties included in Iowa’s current fourth congressional district. Scholten suggested there’s a reason King recently re-tweeted the views of a neo-Nazi.

“He doesn’t have an answer to farmers who have been struggling for four consecutive years on low commodity prices at a time, now, with tariffs to add on top of that,” Scholten said. “…But this is race is not about the crap that comes out of his mouth. It’s about what we can do.”

AUDIO of Scholten’s speech, 3:35

 

New Hubbell-Hart ticket visits Hart’s home territory

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Fred Hubbell, the Democratic candidate for governor, and Rita Hart, his running mate, went to Clinton today to meet with Hart’s hometown supporters. Hart, a farmer from nearby Wheatland, told the crowd it was a difficult decision to join the Hubbell campaign and end her bid for reelection to the state senate representing Clinton County and parts of neighboring Scott County.

“It has been such a pleasure to serve you guys, to work with you and for you for six years,” Hart said. “I look at each one of your faces and I see a memory there.”

Today’s campaign event was originally scheduled inside Clinton County Democratic Party Headquarters, but moved outdoors to a park across the street because of the overflow crowd. Hubbell promised the audience Governor Kim Reynolds has pursued a “shortsighted and destructive agenda” that he and Hart will reverse. Hart said she and Hubbell are pursing a “put people first” agenda.

“You are the people we need to fight for and with,” Hart said, “and that’s what we’re going to do as we continue on this great journey.”

Democrats from Clinton and Scott Counties will meet soon to select someone else to run for Hart’s state senate seat, but no date has been set yet for the district nominating convention.

(Reporting by Dave Vickers, KROS, Clinton)

Young, Axne speak to grassroots party activists (AUDIO)

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Republican Congressman David Young says America is “leading the way” again, internationally, now that President Trump is in office.

“Getting out of the Iran agreement, sitting down at the table with the leader of North Korea, moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Israel — some incredible things are happening right now,” Young said during a speech at the Iowa GOP’s state convention on Saturday. “We need to keep the momentum going. The last eight years, it takes a while to dig out of that. That status quo was not working.”

AUDIO of Young’s speech, 6:00

Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, Young’s Democratic challenger in the third congressional district, addressed delegates at her party’s state convention on Saturday as well.

“When I’m out talking with people across this district, Iowans are working incredibly hard and they’re playing by the rules, but one thing is for sure: Washington doesn’t have our back and we deserve better,” Axne said.

AUDIO of Axne’s speech, 4:00

The Cook Political Report — an agency that analyzes federal political candidates and races — classifies Iowa’s third congressional district as “leaning Republican” heading into November. The district covers 16 southwest Iowa counties and includes the cities of Des Moines and Council Bluffs.

Blum, Finkenauer outline General Election pitches (AUDIO)

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The candidates facing off in Iowa’s first congressional district made their pitches to grassroots activists at their state party conventions this weekend.

“My friends, I’m the number one target of the Democrats in the nation. I’m the number one target of Nancy Pelosi’s. And I was two years ago as well, but we’re still here, right?,” Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque asked Saturday, getting cheers from Iowa GOP delegates in Des Moines.

AUDIO of Blum’s speech, 8:30

Challenger Abby Finkenauer of Dubuque spoke across town to Democratic Party delegates.

“It is the honor of my life to be the Democratic nominee..and send Rod Blum home packing,” Finkenauer said, getting interrupted by cheers from Democratic delegates before she continued, “and make sure we bring some common sense and decency back to Washington, D.C. in November.”

AUDIO of Finkenauer’s speech, 4:40

The first congressional district covers 20 counties in the northeast quadrant of the state. It has a slight voter registration edge for Democrats compared to Republicans, but independents are the largest block of voters. The race is a battle to win over the independents who voted for President Obama in 2012 and President Trump in 2016, as both men won the district by a comfortable margin.

Finkenauer made a pitch to independents during her Saturday speech.

“Talking to folks in rural Iowa and our cities, what I realized really quickly was that 2018 wasn’t going to come down to whether you were a Democrat or a Republican, it was going to come down to our values and who are we as a state and as a country,” Finkenauer said.

Blum told his fellow Republicans that Democrats are trying to “demoralize” Republican voters so they won’t show up at the polls in November.

“The Democrat Party, aided and abetted by a biased media…they want you to believe that our president…is very unpopular. Not true,” Blum said. “…They want us to believe this economy is good because of former President Obama’s policies. LOL. Are you kidding me?”

Congressman Blum, a businessman seeking a third term in the U.S. House, beat the former speaker of the Iowa House in 2014 and a Cedar Rapids city councilwoman in 2016 to retain his seat. Finkenauer has been a state legislator since January of 2015 and would be the youngest women ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives if she prevails in November.

 

Saturday’s party conventions are history, General Election is 141 days away (AUDIO)

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Republicans at their convention.

Democrats and Republicans gathered Saturday in Des Moines for state conventions that in many ways served as the starting bells for the General Election.

Republicans on the state fairgrounds were equipped with thunder sticks. Democrats in Hy-Vee Hall were ready for their pep rally, too. The two candidates for governor took the stages at their party conventions at the same time.

“It’s too bad that Governor Reynolds couldn’t be here to see what she’s going to be up against all the way until November,” Hubbell said, to cheers from his fellow Democrats.

AUDIO of Hubbell’s speech, 12:30

Across town, Reynolds rallied with her fellow Republicans.

“He believes in him and the government and we believe in you, the people,” Reynolds said.

AUDIO of Reynolds’ speech, 14:15

Reynolds repeated her rap on Hubbell’s wealth.

“If you think that the governor’s office is for sale to the highest bidder, then you don’t know Iowans,” Reynolds said, to cheers from her fellow Republicans.

Hubbell told Democrats he was ready to “fight back.”

“She’s only going low because she cannot defend her record,” Hubbell said, to applause.

Over at the GOP convention, Reynolds got some rhetorical back-up from Republican Senator Joni Ernst.

“Fancy Fred Hubbell…will be a governor for union bosses, for the far-left liberals and the far left environmental zealots,” Ernst said.

AUDIO of Ernst’s speech, 13:00

Hubbell’s newly nominated running mate Rita Hart spoke to Democratic delegates and offered the counter argument.

“Governor Reynolds and the Republicans are leading our state in a disastrous direction,” Hart said. “We need a proven leader like Fred to fix our budget disaster and to restore investments in the right priorities.”

AUDIO of Hart’s speech, 9:00

Hubbell, Hart and the Democrats at their convention.

Hubbell sounded the same theme during his convention speech, accusing Reynolds of having “misguided priorities and an extreme agenda.”

“She dismantling everything that make our state a great place and then earlier this week she said I’m running to dismantle everything she’s doing — and she’s right,” Hubbell said to cheers from Democratic Party delegates.

Reynolds, meanwhile, drew cheers from GOP delegates as she listed bills signed into law over the past two years as Republicans controlled the statehouse agenda.

“We are delivering on what we promised Iowans we would do,” Reynolds said.

These are the likely campaign themes Iowans will hear repeated between now and the General Election. November 6th is 141 days away.

After four rounds of voting, Naig secures GOP nomination for ag secretary (AUDIO)

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Mike Naig talks to delegates.

The one statewide contest that was unresolved by the June 6th Primary ended today. Delegates at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention nominated Mike Naig as their candidate for Iowa secretary of agriculture.

“Now, if I’m elected secretary I will make this promise to you: I will continue to work with all of my effort to build a brighter future. I will bring a conservative voice, common sense and leadership to the department on your behalf every day,” Naig said during a three-minute speech to delegates early this afternoon.

Naig was the top deputy in the agency until March. Ag Secretary Bill Northey left for a job in Washington and the governor appointed Naig to take Northey’s place. Naig fell just short of the 35 percent support he needed to win the GOP’s nomination from the primary results. Congressman Steve King signaled to delegates that Naig had the backing of the party establishment and King reminded delegates Naig got more votes than his competitors in the primary.

“He’s Bill Northey choice. He was appointed by Governor Reynolds,” said King, who faced a similar nominating process during his first run for congress in 2002. “He has their support, my support, but more importantly, he won the election and he is the choice of ‘We, the People.'”

Three of Naig’s competitors called on the GOP to nominate an active farmer rather than an administrator like Naig. After three rounds of voting, the contest was down to Naig and Ray Gaesser of Corning.

“I’m a full-time, life-long farmer with my hands in the soil,” Gaesser said in his three-minute speech to delegates.

On the final ballot, Gaesser got nearly 46 percent of the delegates’ votes compared to Naig, who got a total of 54 percent — the only round Naig crossed the required 50 percent threshold to secure the nomination from GOP delegates.

“Now the job is before us. We know what we need to do,” Naig said. “It’ll be a competitive race looking ahead to November.”

Naig will face Democrat Tim Gannon, a former aide to Tom Vilsack in the governor’s office and in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gannon, who did not face primary opposition on June 6, addressing delegates at his party’s state convention today.

“The hay is not in the barn yet, so we have to do all we can over the next five months,” Gannon said.

AUDIO from Iowa GOP’s state convention of nominating speeches and the speeches delivered by Mike Naig, Ray Gaesser, Dan Zumbach, Craig Lang and Chad Ingels, 26:00

AUDIO from Iowa GOP’s state convention of voting results, candidates endorsing those remaining in the contest and, finally, Naig’s acceptance speech, 12:00

AUDIO from Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention of Gannon’s speech, 4:30