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ELECTION NIGHT: Iowa Republicans look to maintain legislative power

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ELECTION NIGHT: Iowa Republicans look to maintain legislative power


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Republicans are expecting to maintain their majority in Iowa’s legislature, the question is whether it will remain a supermajority.

Going into the 2024 election, Republicans held 34 of the 50 seats in the Senate and 64 of the 100 seats in the House.

Each house seat is up every two years but only half of Iowa’s Senate seats are on the ballot this November. With those seats not up for election, Republicans already hold a 17 to 8 advantage. Add in unopposed races and Republicans are essentially guaranteed at least 20 seats in the Iowa Senate to the Democrats 9.

Unopposed House seats are a fairly even split with Democrats holding a slight edge, 15-14.

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Republicans gained that supermajority advantage in both the Iowa House and Senate after the 2022 elections, leaving Iowa Democrats with little power but to complain about bills that came up in the chambers.

If Democrats are able to flip one seat, they will regain the power to hold up appointees needing confirmation votes, which they could use to negotiate legislative concessions.



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Iowa

Live updates: Election Day in Iowa gets underway

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Live updates: Election Day in Iowa gets underway


Welcome to Election Day in Iowa!

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today as Iowa voters may dodge raindrops to make their way to precincts to cast votes in the presidential race, for Iowa’s four congressional seats and a host of local races.

Iowa was not expected to be a swing state, but a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released on Saturday night showed Vice President Kamala Harris with a 3-point lead over former President Donald Trump.

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We’ll be here all day to provide you with updates from around the state and all evening as the latest results come in. Refresh the page and check back often.

When you go to vote on Nov. 5, the top of your Iowa ballot will feature known names such as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris along with their running mates. But as you make your way down the ticket, some races and candidate names may become less familiar.

Not only will 2024 Iowa general election ballots include two proposed constitutional amendments, but some counties also face ballot measures for multi-million dollar bonds for local projects.

Take a look at what’s on your ballot.

— Kate Kealey

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Iowans will decide whether nearly 70 judges, including a Supreme Court justice, will keep their jobs. While Iowa’s judges are appointed, they are required to periodically face voters for retention. If a justice is removed, the governor would appoint a replacement.

This year’s slate includes Supreme Court Justice David May, four Iowa Court of Appeals judges, and 64 district and associate judges. The latter will only appear on ballots for voters in their districts.

Justice May’s retention has caught a lot of attention this election cycle after he joined the 4-3 majority of conservative justices that allowed Iowa’s six-week abortion ban to take effect earlier this year. May was appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022, and now voters can say whether he should remain in his seat.

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District and appellate judges serve six-year terms, while Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms.

For more information about Iowa judges up for reelection, check out this article by the Register’s William Morris.

Cooper Worth

It’s Election Day and polling places in Iowa opened at 7 a.m. this morning. Voters are assigned a polling place within their communities. To find your polling place, visit voterready.iowa.gov or your county auditor’s website.

If you plan on voting in person today, you have to be in line before polls close at 8 p.m.

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Cooper Worth

Iowa does allow voters to register to vote on Election Day at the correct polling location that corresponds with the voter’s address. To do so, the voter must prove their identity and address. A valid Iowa driver’s license with the voter’s current address can meet both requirements.

Other forms of proof of ID include:

  • Iowa non-operator ID
  • Out-of-state driver’s license or non-operator ID
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. military or veteran ID
  • ID card issued by an employer
  • Student ID issued by Iowa high school or college
  • Tribal ID card/document

If your driver’s license does not have your current address, or if you’re using an ID without an address on it, you will also need to provide proof of residency.

The following documents (in paper or electronic form) can serve as proof of residence provided they are dated within the last 45 days:

  • Residential lease
  • Utility bill (including a cellphone bill)
  • Bank statement
  • Paycheck
  • Government check or other government document
  • Property tax statement

Kate Kealey

Election laws vary by state, making it at times difficult to keep up and remember what the protocol is every year.

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Aside from registering and bringing your ID, here are other election rules to know before you head to the polls, which are open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., in Iowa.

— Kate Kealey

At the top of a ballot will be the presidential race, but from there most races will vary depending on where you live in Iowa. Iowa tickets will have a front and a back, so voters should remember to turn their ballots over to ensure they vote for all their applicable races.

All four of Iowa’s U.S. representative seats are up for election. Iowa House and Senate races will also appear on the ballot. Candidates and races will vary depending on where the voter’s registered address.

Voters will also decide whether to retain Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May and various local judges up for retention.

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There will also be two constitutional amendments for Iowans to either approve or deny. A number of county positions such as auditor, sheriff and supervisor will be on the ballot depending on the residence of a voter.

Kate Kealey

Where do I vote in Iowa? Here’s how to find your precinct.

You can find your precinct on the Secretary of State’s website, voterready.iowa.gov. by entering your ZIP code and address.

— Cooper Worth

How to report problems at the polls on Election Day in Iowa

If you witness questionable activity or have issues while at the polls, visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website on Election Security or call the office’s voter hotline at 1-888-SOS-VOTE.

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Poll watchers will be present across the nation for the general election. These non-government employees can observe parts of the election process, including looking at eligibility slips and challenging a voter’s qualifications. However, they are restricted in what they can do during the election, such as being unable to handle ballots and voting equipment, solicit votes for candidates, or interrupt or talk to a voter while in line or while the voter is approaching the polling place.

Des Moines Register investigative reporters Tyler Jett and Lee Rood will be monitoring election day for any voting problems.

Jett can be reached from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at:

Contact Rood from 3-11 p.m. at:

Be sure to include your name and contact information so they can get back to you.

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Cooper Worth



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Iowa beats Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67 behind Payton Sandfort’s 20 points, 11 rebounds

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Iowa beats Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67 behind Payton Sandfort’s 20 points, 11 rebounds


Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Payton Sandfort scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to go with seven assists to help Iowa beat Texas A&M-Commerce 89-67 on Monday night in a season opener.

Owen Freeman added 15 points and nine rebounds for Iowa. Pryce Sandfort had 13 points, and Josh Dix and Drew Thelwell scored 10 apiece.

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Payton Sandfort shot 7 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 9 from long range. The senior averaged 16.4 points and hit 94 3-pointers last season, third-most in program history.

Khaliq Abdul-Mateen scored 12 points and Scooter Williams Jr. added 11 to lead Texas A&M-Commerce.

The Hawkeyes took the lead for good midway through the first half and led 42-35 at the break. The Sandforts combined for 15 first-half points and three 3-pointers.

The Lions pulled within five points early in the second half before Iowa used a 33-9 run for an 84-55 lead with 3:42 remaining. During the stretch, Pryce Sandfort made two 3s and Freeman scored on an alley-oop dunk.

It was the first meeting between the teams. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 against the Southland Conference and have won 90 of their last 96 nonconference home games dating to 2012.

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___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball




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Iowa State women’s basketball takeaways: Freshman Aili Tanke gets first collegiate start

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Iowa State women’s basketball takeaways: Freshman Aili Tanke gets first collegiate start


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AMES – Iowa State women’s basketball player Aili Tanke was walking up the ramp at Hilton Coliseum following Sunday’s practice when she bumped into Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly.

Fennelly, who was getting ready to hop in his car, asked Tanke if she was ready for her first collegiate game on Monday.

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“I was like, ‘Yeah’ and he was like, ‘Well, good, because you’re starting,’” Tanke said. “My mouth just dropped. I didn’t even think I said anything.”

Tanke was one of the stars of Iowa State’s first show Monday. The former Johnston standout scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds as the ninth-ranked Cyclones beat Chicago State 96-56 in their season-opening victory at Hilton Coliseum.

“I thought she was fantastic,” Fennelly said.

Tanke, a 5-foot-11 freshman guard, has been that way ever since she stepped foot on campus. She was impressive in workouts leading up to the season. Tanke then turned in a strong showing by tallying 11 points off the bench in Iowa State’s exhibition win over Central.

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Fennelly has praised Tanke’s basketball IQ and ability to be in the right spot at the right time. He also loves the consistency she brings to practice. All that factored into her locking up the last remaining starting spot alongside Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan, Arianna Jackson and Addy Brown.

“She just knows what she can do and I think she’s really comfortable playing with the other four that have a little experience,” Fennelly said.

Tanke got the starting nod over some more experienced players. She said she was shocked when Fennelly broke the news to her on Sunday.

“It kind of felt like a dream,” Tanke said. “I honestly didn’t believe it. Like, I was scared to tell people because I was like, what if I just imagined it?”

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It was real, though. And Tanke made the most of the opportunity. She connected on two 3-pointers in Iowa State’s 29-0 run to open the game. When it was all said and done, she shot 4-of-5 from the field including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

“You’ve got to give her credit,” Fennelly said. “When you’re a freshman and you start in this environment, you never know how it’s going to go, and she played really, really well and really smart. And I thought for her first college game, was one that was really good.”

Addy Brown starts strong in season opener

With most of the attention on Crooks this season, Brown has managed to fly under the radar. The sophomore was one of Iowa State’s top contributors last season but was left off the preseason All-Big 12 team and didn’t garner much of the spotlight during the offseason.

“If we didn’t have Audi Crooks, Addy Brown would get all that attention,” Fennelly said. “She is as skilled and as talented as any player at her position in the country.”

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Brown showed off that versatile skillset Monday when she filled the stat sheet with a game-high 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. More performances like that should generate more attention for Brown, who has used any offseason snubbing to her advantage.

“I kind of like it that way,” Brown said. “I think it motivates me.”

Crooks finished with 16 points and four rebounds.

Fennelly still figuring out minutes and rotations

Fennelly was able to unload his entire bench during the win over Chicago State. That was the plan. Fennelly had planned to not play anyone more than 24 minutes and get at least 13-14 minutes for everyone. It’s his way of giving everyone on the roster opportunities to make compelling cases for playing time.

But with so many players making the most of those chances early on, Fennelly said he isn’t quite ready to start cutting down on playing time. He said playing time will sort itself out as the season goes along and the games get tougher.

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“We have a very skilled team,” Fennelly said. “It’s one of the more skilled teams that we’ve had here when you look at one through 12.”

Taulelei nears debut

Iowa State center/forward Lilly Taulelei may be close to making her Cyclones debut. Taulelei, a transfer from UMass, has been dealing with a sprained ankle. She didn’t suit up for Iowa State’s exhibition game or the season opener.

But Taulelei did go through a 45-minute individual workout prior to Monday’s game. Fennelly said she could suit up for Thursday’s game against Indiana State.

“She’s close,” Fennelly said. “That’ll be nice to have another body in the post.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468

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