Iowa

Iowa legislature set to become more diverse in 2023

Published

2 years ago

June 9, 2022

Iowa legislature set to become more diverse in 2023

Individuals of coloration and Iowans who determine as a part of the LGBTQ neighborhood are on monitor to carry extra seats within the state Home and Senate subsequent yr, primarily based on outcomes from the June 7 major elections.

The Democratic nominees embody candidates who would add to the legislature’s range in different methods as effectively.

BLACK REPRESENTATION

After successful the Democratic major in Iowa Senate district 17, Izaah Knox is prone to grow to be the second Black Iowan ever to serve within the state Senate and the primary since Thomas Mann, Jr accomplished his second time period in 1990. Senate district 17, overlaying a part of Des Moines, is solidly Democratic. Libertarian ToyA Johnson, who’s Black, and an unbiased are additionally working right here.

A second Black senator could possibly be elected too. Mary Kathleen Figaro was unopposed within the Democratic major to symbolize Senate district 47, an open seat within the Quad Cities space that must be aggressive.

Two Black Republicans filed in Iowa Senate districts. Edward Bernie Hayes was unopposed in Senate district 39, however he might be an excessive long-shot in November as a result of political lean of this a part of Cedar Rapids. Shad Clayton trails by 25 votes in line with the unofficial outcomes from the GOP major in Senate district 16, overlaying some western suburbs in Polk County.

The Iowa Home at present has six Black members, tying the report set within the 2009-2010 session. 5 of these incumbents are looking for re-election:

Democrat Ruth Ann Gaines is unopposed in Home district 33 (Des Moines).
Democrat Ako Abdul-Samad has no Republican challenger in Home district 34 (Des Moines). RJ Miller, who can also be Black, is working as an unbiased right here.
Republican Eddie Andrews simply gained the first for Home district 43 (Johnston and a small space in Des Moines).
Democrat Ross Wilburn is unopposed in Home district 50 (Ames).
Democrat Phyllis Thede might be favored for re-election in Home district 94 (Bettendorf).

Iowa Home Democrat Ras Smith didn’t search re-election in Home district 62 (Waterloo). The one candidate on the poll in that district is Jerome Amos Jr., who can also be Black.

Six different Black candidates competed in primaries for Iowa Home seats, however just one secured the nomination. Mary Madison might be favored towards her Republican opponent in Home district 31 (West Des Moines).

LATINO REPRESENTATION

Republican State Consultant Mark Cisneros grew to become the primary Latino to serve within the Iowa legislature after successful in 2020. He’s looking for re-election in Home district 96 (Muscatine space).

The 2 different Latinos competing in GOP primaries for Iowa Home districts didn’t safe the nominations.

Democrats had two Latino candidates on the poll in Iowa Home districts. Adam Zabner is on monitor to be the primary Latino within the celebration’s caucus after successful the nomination in Home district 90 (Iowa Metropolis). Nonetheless, Gabe De La Cerda didn’t prevail in Home district 36 (Des Moines).

Iowans have by no means elected anybody of Latino ethnicity to the state Senate. Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz will seem on the final election poll as an unbiased candidate in Senate district 17, however they are going to be a long-shot towards Izaah Knox.

ASIAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION

Iowans have solely elected two Asian People to the state legislature. Democrat Swati Dandekar served from 2003 to 2011. Republican Henry Stone was first elected in 2020 and is favored for re-election in Home district 9 (north central Iowa).

Two Democrats of Indian American descent gained primaries in state Home districts this week. Megan Srinivas is closely favored to hold Home district 30 (Des Moines) in November. Suresh Reddy will face GOP incumbent Eddie Andrews in a purple seat: Home district 43 (Johnston).

LGBTQ REPRESENTATION

Just one out LGBTQ perseon has ever served within the Iowa Senate: Democrat Matt McCoy, who retired in 2018. State Consultant Liz Bennett gained the Democratic major in Senate district 39 (Cedar Rapids), a stable blue seat.

Austin Frerick misplaced an in depth race for the Democratic nomination in Senate district 37 (Cedar Rapids space).

Elinor Levin gained the Democratic major in Home district 89 (Iowa Metropolis), which is the state’s bluest legislative district.

Elle Wyant was the one Democrat to file in Home district 91 (rural Johnson County and Iowa County) and can be Iowa’s first transgender legislator if she defeats her Republican opponent.

Libertarian Jeni Kadel, who’s working in Home district 40 (japanese Polk County), can also be transgender. Murguia-Ortiz, the unbiased candidate in Senate district 17, is nonbinary.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Since Democrat Anesa Kajtazovic retired from the Iowa Home in 2014, Abdul-Samad has been the state’s solely Muslim legislator in addition to the one one who identifies with a faith apart from Christianity.

The final Jewish individual to serve within the Iowa legislature was Democrat Ralph Rosenberg, a member of the Home through the Eighties and the Senate by means of 1994. The three Jewish candidates who ran for the legislature this yr all gained their Democratic primaries: Levin in Home district 89, Zabner in Home district 90, and Janice Weiner in Senate district 45 (Iowa Metropolis).

To my data, the one different legislative candidate who’s a part of a non-Christian religion custom is Srinivas (Home district 30), who’s Hindu.

IOWANS WITH DISABILITIES

The 2 Iowa legislative candidates who determine as a part of the incapacity neighborhood have been each unopposed of their Democratic primaries. Josh Turek is working within the open Home district 20 (Council Bluffs). Michelle Servadio Elias is difficult a Republican incumbent in Home district 96 (Muscatine space).

Bleeding Heartland printed extra background on these candidates right here.

Closing notice: Democrat Sami Scheetz is the one candidate on the poll in Home district 78 (Cedar Rapids) and would be the first Arab American to serve in our state legislature. Scheetz lately spoke to The New Arab about why it is necessary for the neighborhood to be higher represented in political places of work.

Prime pictures, from left: Izaah Knox, Liz Bennett, Adam Zabner. All photos first printed on the candidates’ Fb pages.

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Iowa

Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation

Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to take care of business on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins. Now, they head into their final game of the regular season this coming Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 7-4 record.

Iowa will be headed to a bowl game following their game against Nebraska. However, the real question ends up being, which bowl game will they play in?

At this point in time, the Hawkeyes seem to be trending towards playing in one bowl game in particular.

Here are a few of the bowl game projections that have been put out there by analysts:

Obviously, the ReliaQuest Bowl seems to be the clear favorite when it comes to what game Iowa will play in.

Looking at some of the matchups that have been suggested, there is the potential for a very entertaining game.

Going up against Ole Miss, South Carolina, or Alabama would be a very difficult test for the Hawkeyes. Any of those three games would give them a great test to end the 2024 season.

There is still one game that needs to be played. A win over the Cornhuskers would have them ending their season at 8-4. After that game, it will be a wait and see approach as to which bowl game Iowa will play.

All of that being said, seeing this projections should bring excitement to the Hawkeyes’ fan base. None of them would be easy games, but the matchups would give Iowa a chance to end the season with a major upset and to head into the offseason on a high note.

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Iowa

SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A group of Cedar Rapids High School students are making sure people without a home have the essentials this winter.

Gavin Cornwell and his team of Iowa Big students filled 100 bags this week with a little bit of everything.

“We have some fruit roll-ups, some gushers, and a granola bar,” said Cornwell.

For this team, it’s more than just a class. Once done, the bags will go to the unsheltered population living at the winter overflow homeless shelter.

“People really don’t understand, everyone has their own story,” said Cornwell.

These care packages will go to each person who stays at the low-barrier shelter this winter.

“We kind of grabbed the basic necessities to include in these care packages to give them some cheer this holiday season,” he said.

The homeless population in Linn County grew by more than 40% in 2024. Denine Rushing oversees operations at the overflow shelter and said the bags provide items that those who sleep at the shelter might not otherwise get.

“Being able to have these bags that they can just throw in their backpacks or in a bag or just carry with them and utilize throughout the day,” said Rushing. “I think it is going to be really helpful for people.”

Rushing expected to see more people utilize the shelter this year, especially during snow events and bitter cold temperatures.

“You really have to kind of have things on the go, things that you can kind of just grab and take with you while you are out and about throughout the day,” said Rushing.

Cornwell said they planned to hand the bags out this Monday at the shelter. A place this Prairie High School senior is now closer to, a place that was more visible thanks to this school-based project.

“You might drive by and you might see somebody experiencing homelessness but you don’t really know what they’re experiencing,” said Cornwell.

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Iowa

Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake

Returning to Hilton Coliseum was just what the Iowa State women needed, as the eighth-ranked Cyclones held off Drake Sunday afternoon in Ames, 80-78.

Returning sophomore standout Audi Crooks had the game-winning bucket with just :00.3 seconds left in the game, finishing off a 33-point effort to lead Iowa State (5-1).

Crooks, a preseason honorable mention All-American, added four rebounds to her night while shooting 15 of 25 from the field.

Emily Ryan had a double-double, scoring 11 points while dishing out 12 assists. Addy Brown added 13 points and Mackenzie Hare chipped in 10. Brown led the team with eight rebounds while Ryan had six with two steals.

Arianna Jackson had three steals and no turnovers in almost 31 minutes of action.

For Drake, another former Iowa prep standout put up a big number vs. the Cyclones, as Katie Dinnebier knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 39 points. Anna Miller had 18 with eight rebounds, as Dinnebier also had five rebounds, two steals and two assists.

The win marked the 300th non-conference victory for Iowa State under Bill Fennelly all-time, as he improved to 616-314 with the Cyclones and 782-367 overall in his coaching career.

Iowa State added to its NCAA-record streak for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, stretching it to 933 straight.

Up next for the Cyclones will be defending national champion South Carolina on Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Gamecocks had their 43-game win streak snapped with a 77-62 loss in Los Angeles.

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