Marco Battaglia announced on June 16 that he will run for Congress in Iowa’s third district as a Libertarian. His platform includes “promoting agricultural and medical freedom,” combating inflation with “sound money and sound economic reasoning,” and being “a voice for peace and prosperity.”
A longtime resident of Des Moines, Battaglia was the Libertarian nominee for Iowa attorney general in 2018 and for lieutenant governor in 2022, on a ticket with Rick Stewart. Libertarians regained major-party status in Iowa following that election, because Stewart received more than 2 percent of the vote for governor.
A Libertarian convention on June 8 nominated Battaglia, along with two other U.S. House candidates: Lone Tree city council member Nicholas Gluba in the first district, and Charles Aldrich in the fourth district. Aldrich was the Libertarian nominee for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat in 2016; he later was the party’s 2018 candidate in IA-04 and ran for an Iowa House seat in 2022.
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Battaglia’s campaign news release (enclosed in full below) says that for the past five years, he has worked with incarcerated Iowans and previously “had over a decade of experience working to keep Iowans safe from financial crimes.”
The Libertarian’s candidacy will likely worry Republicans. First-term U.S. Representative Zach Nunn already faces a well-funded Democratic challenger in Lanon Baccam. With no third-party candidates on the ballot in 2022, Nunn won with 50.3 percent of the vote to 49.6 percent Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne. In contrast, Axne defeated Republican David Young with about 49 percent of the vote in 2018 and 2020. In both of those races, third-party candidates received more than 3 percent of the votes in IA-03.
While voters across the spectrum may share some Libertarian positions, Battaglia will likely find more support among disaffected Republicans than Democrats. On his campaign website, he describes himself as an ally of Republican U.S. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and names Senators Angus King of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah, and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming as politicians he could imagine working with on companion legislation. King is an independent who caucuses with Democrats; the others are Republicans.
From the issues page of Battaglia’s website:
I will gladly work with whoever is elected this cycle to move us towards sound money, justice, and liberty. We need to move on from the two party illusion/the uniparty that has gripped the country throughout the last century and we need to work together to restore our republic, to stand for the inherent rights of the individual and to let liberty ring for all.
“Uniparty” is an epithet most commonly heard from conservatives. David Pautsch, who had a surprisingly strong showing in the recent GOP primary for Iowa’s first Congressional district, has accused IA-01 incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks of representing the “uniparty” rather than Republicans.
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Bleeding Heartland will soon publish a more detailed preview of the IA-03 race. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the district “lean Republican.” Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales puts IA-03 in the more competitive “tilt Republican” category.
The third district covers the 21 counties that are red on this map. About three-quarters of its voters live in Polk or Dallas counties, containing most of the Des Moines metro area. The latest official figures indicate that the district contains 178,283 registered Democrats, 181,333 Republicans, 182,004 no-party voters, and 4,266 Libertarians.
Appendix: June 16 news release from Marco Battaglia’s campaign
Marco Battaglia Announces Candidacy US House Iowa District 3.
Des Moines , IA — Marco Battaglia has declared his candidacy for US House Iowa District 3. Battaglia was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and he currently resides with his family on the South Side of Des Moines. He experienced the last 5 years from the frontlines working with incarcerated Iowans and taking them in and out of hospitals for medical appointments. Prior to this Battaglia had over a decade of experience working to keep Iowans safe from financial crimes.
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Battaglia’s campaign focuses on taking back the “people’s house” for the citizenry. “We should elect our representatives to be Iowa first, and more specifically in this case, district 3 first,” Battaglia said during his campaign announcement in Des Moines. His platform includes standing for the inherent liberties and concerns of the people of district 3, promoting agricultural and medical freedom, and addressing inflation head on by “leading on sound money and sound economic reasoning”. Battaglia firmly believes that current Representative Thomas Massie “needs more allies in congress that support voluntary exchanges, based in honesty and transparency, that invite reciprocity and trust.” Battaglia often invokes the memory of former Iowa Governor and Senator, Harold Hughes, whom Battaglia calls, “one of the true pioneers in the field of alcohol and other drug abuse.”
Battaglia intends to highlight the people of district 3. Next week Battaglia will be touring Greene and Guthrie counties followed by a public event, Thursday June 20 2024 in Dallas County at 6:30 pm at The Handlebar. 1607 Sugar Grove Ave, Dallas Center, IA 50063. Battaglia encourages press and public to attend, to bring any concerns that they want to voice, and for anyone interested in getting involved locally to show up.
Battaglia will engage with constituents through public events, social media interactions, and grassroots action. Battaglia has pledged to only accept donations from individual Iowans. Battaglia’s announcement comes on the heels of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Engineer, Charles Aldrich’s, announcement to run for US House for Iowa’s 4th district and U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current Lone Tree Iowa City Council member, Nicholas Gluba’s, announcement to run for US House for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. For more updates on Marco Battaglia’s campaign, visit www.marco4congress.com or contact his team at marcoforcongress@yahoo.com.
Top photo of Marco Battaglia provided by his campaign.
Now that the final Iowa high school football state champion has been crowned, it is time to look back on the incredible two-week journey of action we saw from inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The climate-controlled venue was home to all of the semifinal and final action in all seven classifications of Iowa high school football.
And there were plenty of incredible performances and players who took part in the games.
We have narrowed down the list to one MVP in each class for their efforts from the Iowa high school football state semifinals and championship games. And now the job is up to you to determine who was the MVP of the Iowa high school football state championships.
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Cast your vote for your favorite from the nominees below. Voting will run through Friday, November 28 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Complete recaps from all seven Iowa high school football state championship games can be found on High School on SI.
Dowling Catholic’s Ian Middleton (5) runs the ball during the first quarter against Iowa City Liberty on Nov. 21, 2025, at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. / Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ian Middleton was a man against boys in two games from the UNI-Dome, leading the Maroons to their first 5A state football championship and 11th overall in program history. In the finals against Iowa City Liberty, Middleton rushed 34 times for 206 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
In a 14-10 victory over rival Valley in the semifinals, Middleton rushed 29 times for 125 yards. He also caught two passes in the two games.
Carter Hoffmann had the first three touchdowns of the 4A final vs. Pella, finishing the night with 207 yards and three scores on 34 carries as the Saints finished off a perfect season with the state title.
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In a thrilling 31-24 victory in the semifinals over Newton, Hoffmann rushed 20 times for 130 yards. He also had two catches in the two games.
Nevada’s Austin Waldera (21) dives for the endzone to score a touchdown against the Bishop Heelan Crusaders Nov. 21, 2025 during the Class 3A high school state football championship at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And who says that the running back position is dead? Not in Iowa high school football, as our third MVP from the UNI-Dome is another running back in Austin Waldera. In a convincing win over Sioux City Bishop Heelan, Waldera rushed 34 times for 173 yards and a touchdown, averaging 46.5 yards while pinning both of his punts inside the 20. He also led the Cubs with seven tackles, adding two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Waldera also went off in the semis, rushing 36 times for 233 yards and one touchdown while adding 20 yards receiving on a pair of catches. Again, both of his punts were pinned inside the 20, averaging 55.5 per with a 70-yarder. On defense, he again led Nevada, recording 11 tackles, three for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry.
Kuemper Catholic’s Brock Badding (12) and Charles Mayhall (15) celebrate in the fourth quarter Nov. 21, 2025 during the Class 2A high school state football championship Van Meter’s at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Behind Brock Badding, the Knights secured gold, as the signal-caller was 17-for-30 passing for 153 yards with a touchdown in the finals over Van Meter. He also ran for a score and averaged 41.5 yards on four punts, putting two down inside the 20.
In the semifinals, Badding blew up, completing 27 of 38 for 405 yards and six touchdowns, hitting three receivers for two TDs each while four had at least five catches.
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Iowa City Regina’s Will Litton (45) attempts to tackle West Lyon’s Evan Hildring (15) Nov. 20, 2025 during the Class 1A state football championship at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Wildcats leaned heavily on Evan Hilding, and he delivered, rushing 26 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns to lead them to a second consecutive state title. He also had three catches for 21 yards and recorded six tackles with one for loss in the finals.
Hildring piled up 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just 18 carries in the semifinals, making seven tackles with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
MMCRU’s quarterback Eli Harpenau (12) runs with the ball for a first down against MMCRU during the first quarter in the class-A state football championship on Nov. 20, 2025, at UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Royals had several worthy contenders, but it was Eli Harpenau who took home the hardware. In the finals, he was a precise 14 of 21 passing for 169 yards and a touchdown, adding 44 yards rushing and a second score.
Harpenau had a big semifinal performance, going 9 of 17 for 212 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-high 53 yards.
Bishop Garrigan quarterback Tate Foertsch (7) celebrates after touchdown against Woodbine during the fourth quarter in the 8-players state football championship on Nov. 20, 2025, at UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There was not much that the Golden Bear senior didn’t do in earning his second state title in three years, as Tate Foertsch scored the game-winning two-point conversion in the finals to cap an incredible rally. He was 9 of 13 passing for 131 yards, rushing 36 times for 157 yards and three scores. On defense, Foertsch had four tackles and a pass breakup.
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In the semifinals, Foertsch was 4-for-5 for 80 yards, with three of those completions going for touchdowns. He ran 15 times for 73 yards and had three more scores, recording 5.5 tackles with an interception on defense.
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
The Pella Dutch play the Xavier Saints for the Class 4A title.
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Programming support for the 2025 IHSAA Football Championships is provided by Fareway and Iowa Bankers Association.
View the full schedule.
This year brought a significant challenge: Congress eliminated federal funding for public media, resulting in a loss of $3.5 million—or 18% of our annual budget here at Iowa PBS. It’s the largest cut to public funding in our history. Our mission hasn’t changed—but without federal support, it’s harder to accomplish.
Through it all, our commitment to you remains the same. We know we can weather this challenge, but not without you. Your generosity has always powered Iowa PBS, and today it matters more than ever. Donate today to support future programming you love.
The No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones (5-0) will try to continue a five-game winning streak when they visit the Drake Bulldogs (1-2) at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Knapp Center. The matchup airs on ESPN+.
How to watch Iowa State Cyclones vs. Drake Bulldogs
Iowa State vs. Drake odds
Odds provided by BetMGM.
Stats to know
Offensively, Iowa State was the 26th-ranked team in the country (76.8 points per game) last year. On defense, it was 242nd (67.2 points conceded per game).
Last year, Iowa State was 28th in the nation in 3-point makes (8.1 per game) and 24th-best in 3-point percentage (35.9%).
Drake was carried by its offense last year, as it ranked 19th-best in college basketball by tallying 78.0 points per game. It ranked 298th in college basketball in points allowed (70.0 per contest).
Drake was top-25 last season in three-point shooting, second-best in college basketball with 10.1 treys per game. Meanwhile, it ranked 44th with a 34.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
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Photo: Patrick Smith, Andy Lyons, Steph Chambers, Jamie Squire / Getty Images
