Storm Lake Times Pilot

Iowa taking a hard turn right



Republicans steering our ship of state are taking a hard bank to the right ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, and all Democrats can do is stand by and watch.

GOP legislators controlling the statehouse are advancing bills to amend the state constitution in hopes of overturning Roe v. Wade, to allow school vouchers, to reinstate the death penalty, to bar Regents universities from spending outside funding without state approval, and so on.

It almost goes without saying that taxes will be cut at a time when a pandemic cries for public resources.

The November elections clearly gave Republicans a mandate to do as they wish. History indicates that the GOP should make a big comeback in congressional and legislative races following the election of a Democratic president. This hard-right legislative agenda rewards the base and solidifies it.

Democrats are in no position to fight. Republicans control the House 59-41 and the Senate 32-18. There is almost no prospect of flipping either chamber no matter how radical the record.

Democrats’ best hope is to defeat Gov. Kim Reynolds. They also must mount a challenge for Sen. Chuck Grassley’s seat. If Grassley, 87, decides not to run his grandson House Speaker Pat Grassley might like to succeed him by election or by gubernatorial appointment. That’s a brand more than 50 years in the making.

After the November Iowa rout, it will take a brave soul to challenge the incumbents.

State Auditor Rob Sand is the only prospective candidate for governor who has won a statewide race. He has not used his office as a foil to set himself up. He could be using his auditing authority to rail against sweetheart state contracts, taking Medicaid private and incompetent public health administration. He hasn’t done much of it.

Sen. Chris Hall of Sioux City would like to be considered. Few have heard of him. What can he possibly say to catch an electorate running the opposite direction? Other names get mentioned. JD Scholten comes immediately to mind. He came close to beating Rep. Steve King, but got walloped by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in one of the most conservative districts in the nation. Scholten’s trying to figure out his next move. It sounds like his heart and head are still wrapped up in Iowa politics. He is likable and has a strong working-class economic message. He has proven he can raise money without help from Washing- ton, which no Iowan should bank on. He is probably the most credible statewide candidate (who hasn’t won an election) because he is the most populist, and he has an ardent following.

But really, can any Democrat win a statewide race now? Democrats bet the farm on Theresa Greenfield unseating Sen. Joni Ernst and lost a ton on it. Greenfield is a determined woman. She could try it again but what is the argument on her behalf? Retired Admiral Mike Franken of Sioux City is a man of ambition and brains with a sterling resume but may talk past the commoner. Scholten believes a Democrat can put in a good run if Chuck Grassley decides to hang it up — if you can break through the noise of disinformation.

Iowa Republicans remain determined to implement a deeply conservative political agenda. Much of it will pass. Some of it will be struck down by the courts. All of it will stand as the platform for the next election. So far, it has been a smashing success.

Democrats have no voice to counter. Tom Vilsack resumes his role as spiritual leader, although he will be removed to Washington.

Who will emerge as that new voice?

Abby Finkenauer lost her seat in Congress from Dubuque after just one term. Rita Hart is still counting votes from her defeat to Mariannette Miller-Meeks for the congressional seat out of Iowa City. Scholten is thinking about writing a book or doing a podcast. Is he that next Dick Clark or Harold Hughes? Rob Sand isn’t, so far. Is Chris Hall or Mike Franken? Or is Iowa so fundamentally different now, radically so, that nobody can be?

Art Cullen is the publisher and editor of The Storm Lake Times. He won the the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 2017 and is the author of the book “Storm Lake: A Chronicle of Change, Resilience, and Hope from a Heartland Newspaper.” Cullen can be reached at times@stormlake.com.

One response to “Iowa taking a hard turn right”

  1. Michael Franken says:

    I remain convinced that informed Iowans will seek the person who best represents their core values.

Leave a Reply