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Speaker Pat Grassley to seek reelection to Iowa House in 2026, foregoing run for governor

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Speaker Pat Grassley to seek reelection to Iowa House in 2026, foregoing run for governor


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  • Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley announced he will seek reelection to his House seat, forgoing a run for governor in 2026.
  • Grassley has served as House speaker since 2020 and represents District 57 in northeastern Iowa.
  • Grassley cited his commitment to his constituents, family and farming as reasons for seeking reelection to the House.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley has announced he will seek reelection to his House seat in 2026, taking himself out of the wide-open governor’s race.

Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, had been considering running for governor since Gov. Kim Reynolds in April said she would not seek a third full term in office.

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Instead, Grassley announced in a newsletter Friday, June 27, that he will run again for House District 57 in northeastern Iowa, which includes Butler County and part of Bremer County.

“When I reflect on my time serving our area since 2007, I have so much gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me as your representative in the Iowa House,” Grassley said. “It’s an honor to work on your behalf, and today, I’m excited to announce that I will be seeking reelection to House District 57 in the 2026 election.”

Grassley was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006 and has served as House speaker since 2020. He is the grandson of longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

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Under his tenure, House Republicans have expanded their majority from 53 seats to 67 — their first supermajority in more than 50 years.

“My commitment remains rooted in the three roles that define me: serving as your voice in the Iowa House, being a dedicated father to my children and working the land as a farmer,” Grassley said.

Grassley has led House Republicans to pass GOP priorities such as tax cuts, private school education savings accounts and abortion restrictions.

Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, he created a new House Higher Education Committee, which advanced several bills aimed at further dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from the state’s public universities and community colleges.

“Over the years, we’ve achieved significant wins for Iowa — lowering taxes, strengthening our schools, passing common-sense protections for children and supporting our rural communities,” Grassley said. “But there’s still more to do. I believe I can best serve our district by continuing to represent you in the Statehouse, fighting for the values and priorities that make our communities strong.”

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The GOP primary field continues to take shape.

State Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state lawmaker Brad Sherman have launched campaigns. Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra has formed an exploratory committee and aired TV ads as he moves aggressively toward a formal run. Sen. Mike Bousselot also has created an exploratory committee.

Attorney General Brenna Bird also is considering the possibility.

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne. 



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Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor commits to Big Ten foe

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Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor commits to Big Ten foe


An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.

Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.

On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.

Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.

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The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.

Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.

The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.

Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.

As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.

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Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews



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Sen. Chuck Grassley shares he’s recovering from gallstone surgery

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Sen. Chuck Grassley shares he’s recovering from gallstone surgery


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.

His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”

“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.

Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.

The Senate is in session this week.

Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.





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Former Iowa State star, All-American Audi Crooks announces transfer destination

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Former Iowa State star, All-American Audi Crooks announces transfer destination


Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.

Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.

Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.

“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.

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“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”

Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.

The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.





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