DES MOINES, Iowa — Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., pitched herself here Tuesday as an advocate for Midwest pragmatism that she believes can help her party — and the country — navigate past the stormy politics of President Donald Trump.

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Using her keynote address at a Polk County Democratic Party dinner to underline Iowa’s political influence as a potential early contest in the 2028 presidential race, Slotkin urged her audience to vet White House hopefuls carefully.

“You guys are Iowa,” Slotkin said. “You’re going to see every Tom, Dick and Harry candidate come through here, right? I want you to ask what their offensive plan is, their Project 2029. What is their value proposition that they’re going to offer to the American people that is going to offer an alternative to what Trump is doing, rather than just pointing at him and saying, ‘He’s bad, he’s bad, he’s bad, he’s bad’?”

Slotkin, who has been building a national presence since she narrowly won her Senate seat in 2024, is viewed as a possible presidential candidate. Her speech ended a packed day of politicking for Slotkin in a state that previously held Democrats’ first presidential caucuses and is angling to host an early nominating contest again in 2028.

Over lunch in nearby Indianola, Slotkin plied a small focus group of Trump voters with questions about what made an ideal presidential candidate. Later, in a private room at a craft beer bar blocks from the State Capitol, she campaigned alongside state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat running to flip a Republican congressional seat.

“I feel a kinship with the rest of the Midwest,” Slotkin, whose recent travels have also taken her to places like Pittsburgh and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, responded when a reporter asked her about her decision to visit Iowa. “Us Midwestern Democrats need to stick together. It’s a tough thing to be a Midwestern Democrat, right?”

“Sometimes,” Slotkin added, “the national party forgets about the middle of the country or forgets about us until the federal elections or national elections.”

Pressed about whether she sees herself as a national candidate in 2028, Slotkin answered somewhat coyly — but pointedly did not rule out a presidential bid.

“You know, the minute you try and set foot in Iowa, the people kind of lose their minds a little bit,” she began, before she reiterated her commitment to the Midwest and desire to elevate Democrats in Republican-leaning districts.

“If I can be a part of that change — and now I’m a senator, so I have a bigger opportunity to do that — I’m here for that,” she added. “I’m not announcing anything. There’s no big, you know, whatever, announcement to be made. But, yeah, do I want to be in that national conversation and push my own party to be better, because I like winning and I don’t like when people who try to destroy democracy are in the White House? Yeah.”

In an interview, Slotkin went a bit further.

“I’m literally not arrogant enough to think that I’m the only person who can do this,” she said. “If there was someone who I really felt had what it takes to win, I’d get behind that person. I’m a new senator. I’m new to this level of elected office. But if we get through the midterms and I don’t see it emerging from other leaders as they start to announce and people decide and don’t decide, you know, I wouldn’t rule it out. But there’s a long road before we get there.”

Addressing the Polk County Democrats, Slotkin spoke of a “constant state of chaos and urgency” under Trump.

“Is there anyone else,” she asked, “who, every couple of days, just needs to, like, check out and watch bad trash television?”

Democrats, Slotkin said in her remarks, need to have “an honest conversation” about their future and how they can win again in tough states like Iowa, which has favored Trump in three straight elections after having backed President Barack Obama twice.

“You know, we used to talk about are you a progressive or are you a moderate,” Slotkin said. “That’s not the debate anymore. The debate is not between progressive and moderate. It’s fight or flight.”

“There are plenty of people that I serve with who are on Team Flight,” she added. “And I will tell you that I am a good Midwestern Democrat. I fall more on the pragmatic and moderate side of the house, but I am on Team Fight 100%.”

Trump last year accused Slotkin and other Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior” — “punishable by death,” in his words — after they posted a video urging military and intelligence officers to “refuse illegal orders” from the Trump administration. Slotkin received a bomb threat at her home following Trump’s accusation.

Trump’s Justice Department, meanwhile, tried but failed to secure indictments against Slotkin and her colleagues. After her event here with Trone Garriott, Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Defense Department aide, weighed in on Trump’s threat earlier in the day to launch a destructive attack on civilian infrastructure in Iran.

“I just know,” Slotkin said, “as someone who literally made a video in November telling uniformed military that if they’re asked to do something illegal, they have a responsibility to push back, right, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice — we made that video for moments exactly like this.”

But Slotkin’s eagerness to present herself as a reasonable Midwesterner who can talk to people on both sides of the political spectrum was the more prevalent theme of her day in Iowa.

“If you’re in this room, I don’t know if you’re a Democrat or a Republican or an independent, but we’re Midwesterners,” Slotkin said at the Trone Garriott event, which focused on health care affordability. “We know that our neighbors often vote differently than we do, right? … My dad was a lifelong Republican, my mom a lifelong Democrat. It was totally normal when I was growing up to do that. We were more likely to fight Michigan versus Michigan State than Democrat versus Republican.”

Slotkin then took a dramatic bow and cheered the Michigan Wolverines’ victory Monday night before in the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

“We’ll win it pretty, we’ll win it messy,” Slotkin said. “But we won it.”

Later, at the dinner, Slotkin praised Trone Garriott. “It is nice,” Slotkin said, “to watch another Midwestern badass woman in action.”

Speaking to reporters after their joint event, Trone Garriott emphasized why she found Slotkin’s visit significant.

“It means a lot to me as a Democrat that has consistently won in Republican districts to have a Democrat that has consistently won in Republican districts to show up and support me,” she said. “People are upset with the political system as it is. They’re mad at both parties for good reason.”

That type of frustration was on the menu at the focus group lunch organized by Majority Democrats, a political organization that Slotkin and others are using to advance a new course for their party. The five participants had responded to an ad seeking open-minded potential swing voters and were paid $200 for their time.

Slotkin introduced herself as a senator from Michigan but avoided mention of her political affiliation until the end. As she took small bites from her turkey sandwich, she conversationally surveyed the three women and two men seated at her table. Her questions ranged from open-ended — “What’s your hot take?” she asked them twice — to precise.

“If you could build a candidate in a test tube to be your ideal,” she wondered at one point, “what would that look like? How could someone say, ‘OK, I’m going to restore your faith’?”

And then, probing why they supported Trump over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Slotkin asked: “What would have gotten you to actually consider a Democrat?”

The people around the table said they wanted a candidate who is bold but also kind and genuine. And they preferred someone who is independent and doesn’t vote in lockstep with their party. One of the men, Ed Klavins, a retiree from Urbandale, grumbled about how Harris infamously said she couldn’t think of anything she would have done differently from President Joe Biden.

“I remember,” Slotkin said, “that exact moment.”

Klavins, who cited political commentator Bill Maher and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania as Democrats he admires, told reporters after the lunch that he found Slotkin genuine.

“I liked her,” he said.

Later, in her interview with NBC News, Slotkin said she didn’t believe there was one moment that doomed Harris’ campaign.

“But there were certainly certain ads and certain appearances that I remember, like, stopping in my tracks,” she said. “And I remember that one, and I just said, ‘That’s not going to work.’”

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — Jim Carlin, a former state senator and 2026 candidate for the U.S. Senate, said that he supports the decision for the United States and Israel to launch military strikes on Iran but does not want to see a drawn out war like previous involvement with Iraq.

Carlin — an Army veteran and attorney from Sioux City — believes that Iran posed a security threat to Americans because of its wish for nuclear weapons but he does not want to see President Donald Trump authorize U.S. troops on the ground in Iran.

The U.S. and Israel began military strikes on Iran on February 28th. At least 13 U.S. troops have died and several hundred have been injured.

The war costs American taxpayers an estimated $1-2 billion per day.

U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is running against Carlin in the June 2nd primary.

Two Democrats are also running: state Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs and state Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a Red Oak Republican in her second term, is not running for re-election.

Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.

There have been a lot of things that T.J. Otzelberger has excelled at as the head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, but if there is one thing that truly sticks out as a strength, it is his ability to identify players who fit his scheme perfectly.

Whether it is in the transfer portal or recruiting high school athletes, the Cyclones’ depth chart has been restocked successfully year after year. This offseason, Otzelberger faces arguably his toughest test yet.

Five seniors are departing, one player has entered the transfer portal and Milan Momcilovic declared for the 2026 NBA Draft with the ability to come back to school if he chooses. With so many potential voids to fill, where should Iowa State prioritze their attention?

Here are their three biggest needs heading into the transfer portal opening.

Capable Lead Ball Handler

Replacing a player of Tamin Lipsey’s caliber is virtually impossible. He is one of the best players in Cyclones history and will assuredly have his No. 3 uniform raised to the rafters at some point in the future.

The long-term outlook of the backcourt is excellent, with Killyan Toure and Jamarion Batemon being joined by incoming Class of 2026 guards Christian Wiggins and Yusef Gray Jr. However, there is a major need for some experience and depth.

Cade Kelderman is heading into the portal, which will be a blow to the depth. Ideally, Otzelberger will find someone capable of not only running the offense but helping set the tone defensively as well.

There is a lot to like about Jaquan Johnson to help fill that void. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9, he is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-MVC First Team selection.

Do-It-All Nate Heise Replacement

Over the last two seasons, Nate Heise has done everything to help Iowa State win basketball games. Regardless of what his role has been, whether he comes off the bench or starts, he has excelled.

Finding glue guys like that who are willing to do the dirty work to help a team win is easier said than done. But, there is one player who sticks out as an ideal target: Trevian Carson, formerly of the North Dakota State Bison.

He dominated in the Summit League, stuffing the stat sheet efficiently. It wasn’t just him beating up on lower-level competition, as he performed well against the UC Irvine Anteaters, Drake Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans.

His skill set is similar to Heise’s in so many ways, as an excellent rebounding guard who can do a little bit of everything while providing versatility on the defensive side. However, he offers even more offensive upside with better efficiency numbers.

Power Forward Depth

If there is one area of the roster that looks shored up right now, it is the frontcourt. Blake Buchanan and Dominykas Pleta are both expected to be back. Jackson Kiss and Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan are part of the Class of 2026 with bright futures.

However, the Cyclones are thin at power forward. Pleta could play some minutes there as he did previously before joining Iowa State. Kiss has received some comparisons to Joshua Jefferson, but there is no way Otzelberger thrusts a freshman into that size of a role.

There aren’t many players in the country who make an all-around impact at as high a level as Jefferson did; finding a one-for-one replacement will be virtually impossible. But if they were to lean toward a specific skill set, finding someone who can put the ball in the basket would be ideal.

An offensive-minded forward would become even more important to find if Momcilovic doesn’t return for his senior year.