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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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How much snow will we get? More snow to hit central Iowa on Monday

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How much snow will we get? More snow to hit central Iowa on Monday


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A second round of snow is forecast for central Iowa after the Des Moines metro saw anywhere from 7 to 12 inches of snow over the Thanksgiving weekend.

While this storm won’t bring as much snow, it will be followed by a cold chill later in the week with temperatures dropping below freezing.

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When will it snow again?

Snowflakes were already falling again in southern Iowa in the morning hours of Monday, Dec. 1. Central Iowa is also expected to see some flurries in the morning. The snowfall will peak in the late morning and end in the evening.

Southern Iowa, which is also under a winter weather advisory, could see another 1 to 3 inches of snow.

What is the snow forecast for Des Moines?

In Polk County, the northwest suburbs could see a half-inch of snow. Southeast Polk County could see closer to an inch of snow. A hazardous weather outlook was issued for Polk County and much of Iowa.

What is the forecast for the rest of the week in Des Moines?

There is a 20% chance of snow, accompanied by wind gusts up to 23 mph on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Des Moines, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will start to drop as the week goes on. By Wednesday evening, temperatures could hit a low of 10 degrees below zero, followed by a high of 11 degrees and sunny skies on Thursday.

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Kate Kealey is the growth and development reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.





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Husker Doc Talk: What’s Next for Nebraska After the Smackdown by Iowa?

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Husker Doc Talk: What’s Next for Nebraska After the Smackdown by Iowa?


Nebraska closed the regular season with a thud, getting blasted 40–16 by Iowa and stumbling into the offseason searching for answers — and maybe an identity. On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and former Husker offensive lineman Dr. Rob Zatechka break down exactly how the Huskers unraveled in their final two games, getting outscored 77–26 and dropping their third straight Black Friday matchup against Iowa. Since joining the Big Ten, Nebraska has gone 4–11 against the Hawkeyes — and the gap feels wider than ever.

So now the question becomes: What changes are coming? Will Matt Rhule overhaul his staff? Will key players stick around or move on?

We dive into the big offseason decisions, including:

It was also a wild weekend across college football — coaches fired, coaches hired, chaos everywhere, and Lane Kiffin doing what Lane Kiffin does: lighting a dumpster fire and then pretending he’s the one getting smoked out. One thing is certain: Big changes are coming to the sport, and the ripple effects will hit everyone, including Nebraska.

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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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What are Iowa football’s recruiting needs for early signing day? What to know

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What are Iowa football’s recruiting needs for early signing day? What to know


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IOWA CITY — The early signing period begins on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Here’s a guide previewing Iowa football’s recruiting endeavors in the 2026 high school class.

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The Hawkeyes currently have 17 known scholarship commitments, plus four preferred walk-on pledges.

The offensive line is one of the highlights of Iowa’s class. The Hawkeyes have five commitments in the class, three of whom are regarded as four-star prospects, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Iowa has done well to keep in-state talent home. According to the 247Sports Composite, five of the top eight players in the state’s 2026 recruiting class are committed to the Hawkeyes, including the top three. Iowa got two of those five from right in their backyard — Iowa City West’s Julian Manson and Colin Whitters.

There are some promising pieces for the future of Iowa’s long-ailing passing game. Quarterback Tradon Bessinger is the top-ranked player in Iowa’s 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is accompanied by a trio of 3-star receivers. The Hawkeyes also recently landed Norwalk’s Luke Brewer, a highly sought-after four-star tight end.

Iowa has been a linebacker pipeline to the next level. There are some well-regarded players set to arrive at that position in this class. In-state prospects Manson and Kasen Thomas are each rated as four-star recruits. The trio of linebackers in the class also includes 3-star Billy Weivoda.

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What remains unclear is what Iowa is going to do at kicker following the departure of Drew Stevens, the program’s all-time leader in made field goals. At this moment, the only kicker projected to be on Iowa’s 2026 roster is preferred walk-on Caden Buhr.

Iowa’s recruiting class is still subject to change. But here is who’s expected to officially become a Hawkeye during the early signing period.

Iowa football team recruiting rankings

The Hawkeyes rank 27th nationally in the team recruiting rankings, according to the 247Sports Composite.

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Iowa football commitments in 2026 high school recruiting class

Tradon Bessinger

  • Position: Quarterback
  • High School: Davis
  • Home state: Utah
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 140

Julian Manson

  • Position: Linebacker
  • High School: Iowa City West
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 183

Carson Nielsen

  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Waterloo West
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 254

Darion Jones

  • Position: Defensive back
  • High School: Omaha North
  • Home state: Nebraska
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 266

Kasen Thomas

  • Position: Linebacker
  • High School: Bishop Heelan Catholic
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 289

Gene Riordan

  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Hinsdale Central
  • Home state: Illinois
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 321

Hudson Parliament

  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Brandon Valley
  • Home state: South Dakota
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 330

Luke Brewer

  • Position: Tight end
  • High School: Norwalk
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Four-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 448

Billy Weivoda

  • Position: Linebacker
  • High School: Milton
  • Home state: Georgia
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 496

Marcello Vitti

  • Position: Defensive back
  • High School: Divine Child
  • Home state: Michigan
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 546

Owen Linder

  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Chanhassen
  • Home state: Minnesota
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 600

Colin Whitters

  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Iowa City West
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 600

Brody Schaffer

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • High School: Winneconne
  • Home state: Wisconsin
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 677

Xavier Stinson

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • High School: Vero Beach
  • Home state: Florida
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 677

Sawyer Jezierski

  • Position: Defensive lineman
  • High School: Edina
  • Home state: Minnesota
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 964

Diondre Smith

  • Position: Wide receivers
  • High School: Duncan U. Fletcher
  • Home state: Florida
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 1,048

Ronnie Hill

  • Position: Defensive back
  • High School: Adlai Stevenson
  • Home state: Michigan
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): Three-star
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): 1,048

Preferred walk-ons

 Isaiah Oliver

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • High School: Waukee
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Noah Daniel

  • Position: Defensive back
  • High School: Fort Dodge
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

David Fason

  • Position: Defensive lineman
  • High School: Cedar Rapids Prairie
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Eli Robbins

  • Position: Defensive back
  • High School: Norwalk
  • Home state: Iowa
  • Rating (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A
  • National ranking (according to 247Sports Composite): N/A

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com



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