Bleeding Heartland

Bleeding Heartland is a community-driven blog that offers original insights and analysis on Iowa's political landscape, focusing on campaigns, elections, and state governance. It also addresses social and environmental matters. Additionally, Bleeding Heartland keeps readers informed about the activities of Iowa's congressional representatives and highlights federal, state, or local policies that may be of interest to those living in Iowa.

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Meet Nathan Sage, the first Democrat running against Joni Ernst

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin |Rob Sand |Randy Evans |Bruce Lear

“The working class has been working their ass off every day to survive and make ends meet for their families,” Nathan Sage told me this week. Making working people’s lives better is the driving force of his U.S. Senate campaign. At least four Democrats are thinking seriously about running against two-term Republican incumbent Joni Ernst. Sage was the first to make it official, on April 16.
On Iowa school’s voucher law, claims about accountability don’t add up

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Rob Sand |Randy Evans |Bruce Lear |Laura Belin

Rob Sand is Iowa’s state auditor. Recently, an argument has been going around that goes like this: private schools are accredited to teach students, therefore they’re accountable to taxpayers. This claim ignores that being accredited as an academic institution has nothing to do with how an entity spends money. Accredited private schools taking vouchers still have no rules for how they spend tax dollars, and no audits either.
Important reminder: Free speech includes right to criticize government

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Randy Evans |Bruce Lear |Laura Belin |Sue Dinsdale

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at [email protected]. A constitutional showdown taking shape in southern Iowa’s Decatur County could put taxpayers on the hook financially to defend the county’s efforts to silence a critic of public officials there.
A good day for Rob Sand

1 week ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

It will take months to fully assess the fallout from Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision not to seek another term in 2026. But one thing’s for sure: State Auditor Rob Sand’s chances of winning the next governor’s race are substantially higher now than they were before April 11. The day before Reynolds announced her plans to focus on her family in the coming years, Morning Consult published its latest round of approval ratings for all 50 U.S. governors.
"Even on human remains"-notes from a revealing Iowa Senate debate

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

"Even on human remains"—notes from a revealing Iowa Senate debate Wednesday, Apr 9 2025 0 Comments Sometimes debate on a low-profile bill reveals a lot about how the Iowa legislature operates. So it was on April 9, when the Iowa Senate took up House File 363, “an Act relating to the final disposition of remains.”The bill was one of ten non-controversial measures (often called “non-cons”) that senators approved that day. But don’t be fooled by the 47-0 vote for final passage.
Bernie Sanders hired an Iowa organizer. What Evan Burger's working on now

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign has a staffer on the ground again in Iowa. No, the senator from Vermont isn’t getting a head start on the 2028 caucuses. In an April 3 telephone interview, Evan Burger described his focus and early work as Iowa organizer for Friends of Bernie Sanders. Burger’s been in the organizing world for about ten years, and this is his third stint with the Sanders campaign. He was one of the presidential candidate’s first two Iowa hires in 2015.
Public schools don't need chaplains

2 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Bruce Lear

Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City and has been connected to Iowa’s public schools for 38 years. He taught for eleven years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional director for 27 years until retiring. He can be reached at [email protected] If you ask an Iowa educator what they need to be successful, you’ll get a list of things like, time to prepare, no legislative attacks, parental support, adequate supplies, administrative backing, and adequate school funding.
First thoughts on Zach Wahls' chances against Joni Ernst

3 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Laura Belin |Rod Sullivan |Bruce Lear |Bernie Scolaro

Dave Price had the scoop for Gray Media on March 28: State Senator Zach Wahls is “certainly listening” to those who have encouraged him to run for U.S. Senate in 2026. Wahls is the first Democrat to publicly express interest in this race. Two-term Senator Joni Ernst has not formally launched her re-election campaign but is widely expected to seek a third term. Wahls told Price he will decide whether to run for higher office after the Iowa legislative session.
The Republican "experiment" with Medicaid isn't working

3 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Rod Sullivan |Bruce Lear |Bernie Scolaro |Randy Evans

Rod Sullivan is a Johnson County supervisor. I searched the word “Medicaid” in my archive. I was shocked to find how much I have written on the topic—tens of thousands of words over the years. Why have I written so much about Medicaid? For one, you write what you know. I used to work in the Iowa Medicaid program. Even though that was several years ago, I know Medicaid quite well. That is why the Republican scheme to cut the program upsets me so much.
Reflecting on Resilience: Alex Kor to share parents' Holocaust story at ISU

3 weeks ago | bleedingheartland.com | Bruce Lear |Bernie Scolaro |Randy Evans

Jacqui Daniels, founder of Daniels PR, works with authors and publishing companies to promote new books and support literary talents. The Holocaust is a profound chapter in human history, and its lessons are more relevant than ever. On April 7, at 6 PM, Dr. Alex Kor will deliver a deeply personal talk, “Reflecting on My Parents’ Holocaust Journeys: Finding Forgiveness and Celebrating My Family’s Legacy,” at Iowa State University‘s Great Hall in the Memorial Union.