Amanda Rooker

1 week ago | kcci.com | Amanda Rooker

State Rep. Austin Baeth (D-Des Moines) will not run for Congress in 2026. He was initially considering running for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, but in an exclusive interview with KCCI, he said he has decided not to launch a campaign.Baeth said he consulted former members of Congress to ask how much time they are able to spend with their spouse and kids. He said the resounding answer was that the position only allows for time with family on Sundays.For Baeth, that would be too much time away.

1 week ago | kcci.com | Amanda Rooker

IN THE FULL FORECAST. TODAY I’M ANNOUNCING THAT I’M RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REPRESENT IOWA’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING, IOWA’S HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JENNIFER CONFERCE, IS NOW IN THE RACE FOR IOWA’S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. KCCI WAS THE FIRST TO LEARN COME FIRST WANTS TO TAKE ON REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT ZACH NUNN IN THE 2026 ELECTION. IT’S EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN THE COUNTRY.

2 weeks ago | kcci.com | Amanda Rooker

U.S. Sen.

2 weeks ago | kcci.com | Amanda Rooker

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision not to run for reelection in 2026 sets the stage for a wide-open governor's race for both parties that could reshape Iowa’s political landscape. For former Gov. Tom Vilsack, the moment feels familiar. “With Gov. Reynolds making the decision not to run, that’s also a similarity with 1998," Vilsack said during an interview with KCCI. "Gov. Branstad made the decision at that time not to run.

3 weeks ago | kcci.com | Amanda Rooker

During a heated exchange on the Iowa Senate floor Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate called on legislative leadership to take up a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain. Republican Sen. Lynn Evans spoke on a point of personal privilege and argued that the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines is unconstitutional. "Eminent domain was never intended to be used for this process, and I don't think this was the intent of our founding fathers," Evans said.