Iowa

‘This is the grassroots.’ Iowans gather to caucus ahead of midterms

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2026

‘This is the grassroots.’ Iowans gather to caucus ahead of midterms

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra rallied Republicans at a West Des Moines caucus site Monday, Feb. 2, as both parties work to get organized ahead of a competitive midterm election year.

His stop at the Stilwell Junior High caucus site was Feenstra’s first of several planned visits across Polk and Dallas counties, and he touted his work in the state Legislature and in Congress as he appealed to some of his party’s most active members.

“This last year has just been amazing working with President Trump and making sure that we take America first,” he told the group. “I was on Air Force One last week. We were talking about this — making sure that we continue lowering taxes, to make sure that we lower prices at the gas pump and our groceries and all this other stuff.”

Republicans and Democrats held their Iowa Caucuses Feb. 2 at locations across the state.

For Feenstra and other candidates facing a June 2 primary election, this year’s caucuses presented a chance to elevate their name recognition among key party activists, gather signatures to get on the ballot and recruit supporters as they look to break away from the pack.

Especially in years when there is no presidential nomination, the caucuses are about getting the parties organized, submitting planks to be included in their platforms, persuading people to sign up as delegates and getting them to commit to being involved with their local party apparatus.

Feenstra is one of five candidates running for the Republican Party’s gubernatorial nomination. The others include state Rep. Eddie Andrews, businessman Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen.

At Stilwell Junior High, each of the remaining four gubernatorial candidates had a supporter designated to speak on their behalf.

Representatives also spoke in favor of Republican U.S. Reps. Zach Nunn, who is seeking reelection to the 3^rd District, and Ashley Hinson, who is running to replace Joni Ernst in the U.S. Senate.

For candidates, Iowa Caucuses are a chance to engage with the grassroots

Feenstra told reporters that he was excited to engage with the grassroots of his party.

“This is the time where the Republican Party gets together, talks about policy, and talks about how we’re going to make sure that we keep this state red, making sure that we don’t get extreme liberals running this great state,” he said. “So that’s what’s happening today, and I’m so excited. This is the grassroots. These are the people that door knock. They put out the signs and everything like that. So it’s fun to be a part of it.”

Laura Ridgway, a 65-year-old West Des Moines resident who caucused Monday, said she feels a responsibility to come.

“How can you complain about your government if you’re not willing to participate and create change or at least listen?” she said.

She said she likes what she knows about Feenstra, but she’s also interested in Steen. She knows Steen has been endorsed by conservative media personality Steve Deace and respects his recommendation.

Mostly, she said, she wants a governor who can keep the state “in line with Christian values.”

Dale Helling spoke in favor of Steen at the Stilwell caucus site Monday after meeting him at a recent fundraiser and coming away “super impressed.”

He likes that Steen has experience in both the private and government sectors, and he thinks Steen would stack up against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand “very well” in a potential debate.

“I think he’s our best candidate, quite honestly,” Helling said.

He said he’ll vote for whoever ends up winning the primary, but now he’s disappointed that Feenstra isn’t engaging more with the GOP primary field.

“I think Randy might be a little awkward at times,” Helling said. “And quite honestly, I’m not happy — I can see why he’s doing it — but he’s ducking everybody right now. He’s refusing to debate. He probably has the lead right now because of name recognition, and he has more money. So he’s choosing really not to engage. And I don’t like that. You should be out there debating with everybody else, and he’s not doing it.”

Feenstra has increasingly come under fire from party activists for opting out of forums and events that feature his primary opponents, including a Jan. 27 debate in Des Moines.

That debate was the same day Trump visited Iowa, and Feenstra said he was flying to and from Des Moines on Air Force One with Trump and couldn’t attend the event.

Feenstra told reporters he asked Trump for his endorsement on that flight, and he hopes to earn the president’s support this primary cycle. So far, the president has not waded into Iowa’s gubernatorial race, although he has made endorsements in three of the state’s four congressional districts.

Some underdog candidates organize with an eye to possible contested convention

In Iowa, if a candidate in a primary race can’t clear 35% of the vote, the nominee is selected by a group of delegates at the party’s convention.

The selection of those delegates begins on caucus night, with volunteers offering to serve first at the county level, then the district and ultimately the state level.

It’s a possibility for which some groups and campaigns were actively preparing as they went into caucus night.

Chuck Hurley, vice president of Christian conservative organization The Family Leader, has encouraged his group’s supporters to attend their caucuses by reminding them in a series of emails that they could play an outsized role in selecting the party’s nominee for governor if a convention becomes a reality.

“For me, it’s just simple math,” he told the Des Moines Register. “If you have four, five, you know, six candidates in a race, you start dividing up the vote, because they each have people that support them.”

The Steen campaign said they were also preparing for the possibility by making connections with key activists and encouraging them to caucus and become delegates.

“We want to be very active at caucus, because we know if this thing does go to convention, we want people represented at state convention who will support Adam Steen,” said Rob Peters, Steen’s campaign manager.

The selection of a nominee at convention is relatively rare, but the process is far different than an open election and can give way to unpredictable results based on the preferences of those delegates who happen to be serving.

In 2014, David Young won the Republican nomination in the 3^rd District congressional race after finishing in fifth place in the primary election and after five rounds of voting at the convention. He later went on to win the general election.

Currently, Feenstra is viewed as the race’s frontrunner. He is a sitting congressman with a large war chest, high name recognition among potential voters and a network of high-profile supporters.

It would be a significant upset if he were unable to hit the 35% benchmark. But so far, Feenstra has been unable to clear the primary field.

Billy Fuerst, a spokesperson for Feenstra, said the campaign is not worried about the possibility of a contested convention.

He noted the campaign’s most recent fundraising report, which showed Feenstra easily leading the GOP field with $4.3 million in fundraising — more than the rest of the Republican field combined.

“We have the resources to win. We have the message to win. And our polling also confirms Congressman Feenstra is the commanding frontrunner in this primary election,” Fuerst said. “And again, he will be nominated in June to be the Republican nominee for governor of Iowa, and he will defeat extreme liberal Rob Sand with his common-sense conservative message.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.

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Iowa

Kentucky vs. Iowa State set as Joshua Jefferson injury lingers: Early odds set

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky vs. Iowa State set as Joshua Jefferson injury lingers: Early odds set

It’s official: No. 7 Kentucky Basketball will face No. 2 Iowa State in the Round of 32 on Sunday after surviving an overtime thriller against Santa Clara, while the Cyclones cruised past Tennessee State 104-78 in the first round.

While the win was a big one for Iowa State, they did receive some bad news with All-American forward Joshua Jefferson. During the game, Jefferson, a 6-foot-9 senior from Las Vegas, injured his left ankle in the opening minutes. The 240-pound forward had to be helped off the court and later returned on crutches, wearing a boot on his left ankle.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said X-rays on Jefferson were negative, confirming he has a sprained ankle, but his status for Sunday’s game against Kentucky is still unknown.

Jefferson has averaged 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He earned Second-Team AP All-American honors and was a standout in the Big 12 Tournament, helping Iowa State defeat Arizona State and Texas Tech before falling to eventual champion Arizona on a buzzer-beater.

Despite the injury, Iowa State remains a team you don’t want to face. The Cyclones are known for their defense but can also score in bunches. While Jefferson’s availability is uncertain, Kentucky knows it will be facing a talented and deep roster regardless.

The early odds suggest as much, as Iowa State opened as a 5.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The line would very likely be even bigger if Jefferson were playing for sure, so this line could indicate that oddsmakers don’t think the star forward will play.

The line has since moved down to 4.5 points. The over/under is 145.5 points, as oddsmakers see this as a low-scoring defensive game.

Jefferson’s status could be the story of the game, but Kentucky will still need an A+ effort to take down a great Cyclones team.

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Iowa

FDU women relishing underdog role vs. Iowa in NCAA Tournament

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

FDU women relishing underdog role vs. Iowa in NCAA Tournament

Fairleigh Dickinson coach Stephanie Gaitley is headed back to where it began.

Three years ago, Gaitley’s first game on the sidelines for FDU was at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Caitlin Clark’s team torched the Knights by nearly 60 points.

“Our kids, kind of their eyes were in the headlights, so to speak,” Gaitley told The Post. “And they just kind of weren’t sure what was going to hit them with that sellout crowd.”

Gaitley doesn’t anticipate the same lopsided outcome Saturday when 15th-seeded FDU takes on second-seeded Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Sportsbooks favor the Hawkeyes by more than 30 points. But Gaitley views Saturday’s game as an opportunity to measure FDU’s monstrous growth over the past three seasons.

“Three years ago … we were a completely different team,” Gaitley said. “We’re going in with a different type of mentality right now because of the fact that we built what we built this year and I think the kids are going in with a lot of confidence. They know the task at hand is a difficult one, but they’re welcoming the opportunity and they have, as always, played with that chip on the shoulder.”

FDU experienced a lot of turnover from last year’s team, which went dancing for the first time in program history. Three of the Knights’ starters were seniors; another, Lilly Parke, suffered a torn ACL over the summer.

Sophomore Ava Renninger is the lone starter to return this season.

The Knights stumbled out of the gates, suffering back-to-back losses to Purdue and Notre Dame. Those defeats, while disappointing in the moment, ultimately helped FDU grow together.

Once NEC play came around, the Knights seemingly picked up where they left off.

FDU is starting to build a reputation as the NEC’s undisputed heavyweight champ. They haven’t lost a conference game in more than two years. They joined UConn in being the only Division I program to go undefeated in league play in back-to-back seasons.

Sophomore Ava Renninger is the lone starter to return for FDU this season. Getty Images

Rennington, now a leader on the team, said this season “was even harder” than the last.

“Obviously, the 18-0 looks easy to everyone,” Rennington said. “It was a dogfight.”

There’s a mentality switch for teams such as FDU heading into March Madness. For the majority of the season, the Knights shouldered the pressure of being the team to beat in their conference. They were the vanquishers, the ones expected to win every game.

Come Saturday, FDU is freed of those expectations.

“It’s kind of a pressure cooker when you’re building up from winning 18-0 and then you got to win three more against three teams that you’ve already beaten twice,” Gaitley said. “And so I think this is kind of a relief, switching that role of being the Goliath to being the David.”

FDU head coach Stephanie Gaitley said her team is relishing its underdog role vs. No. 2 seed Iowa. Getty Images

This is the second consecutive season FDU is headed to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Knights, then a 15 seed, were blown out by second-seeded TCU in the Round of 64.

Rennington remembered being “shell-shocked” last year. FDU was just happy to be included in the NCAA Tournament.

The excitement is still there this time around, but there’s also an eagerness to surprise some people.

Iowa enters March Madness coming off a 51-point loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament’s championship game.

The Hawkeyes’ size could be a problem for FDU.

Iowa boasts a dominant frontcourt, anchored by sophomore center Ava Heiden (17.4 points and 7.3 rebounds) and senior forward Hannah Stuelke (13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds). They’re surrounded by steady shooters, including Chazadi Wright, who’s converting on 45.2 percent of attempts from deep.

But FDU is scrappy, confident and playing freely — a dangerous combination in March.

“We want to show them how good we are,” Rennington said. “A lot of people obviously are going to see us as an underdog, as a 15 seed, and I prefer that perspective than a Goliath because they’re not expecting you to come out. They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re a good team,’ but, like, as an underdog, you can come out and shock a lot of people by coming out and playing Iowa really well.”

“Our kids, they’re fighters,” Gaitley said. “I don’t think these kids are afraid at all. I think they’re just excited about the opportunity.”

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Iowa

March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

TAMPA, Fla. — Brendan Hausen wore a smile on his face as he held up his phone and nodded his head.

The Iowa men’s basketball team was gathered for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 15, awaiting their fate in the March Madness bracket. Part of the pageantry of the Selection Show is seeing players’ reactions when their team is called. Hausen, who was in the front row, exuded joy.

Except, Iowa had not been called yet.

On the screen was … High Point.

A voice came from across the room.

It was Iowa head coach Ben McCollum.

“Is that your brother?” McCollum asked.

Hausen looked over and confirmed McCollum’s suspicion.

“That’s my brother,” Hausen said.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is a family affair for the Hausens.

Braden Hausen, Brendan’s younger brother, made the NCAA Tournament at High Point. The Panthers were guaranteed a spot in this year’s field of 68 after winning the Big South Conference Tournament. High Point earned a 12-seed and was matched up with 5-seed Wisconsin.

“It’s special,” Hausen said. “Not many people from Amarillo (Texas) have got to do this … So seeing Amarillo get to March Madness is something special. And seeing my brother’s name be called was awesome.”

About 20 minutes after High Point was called, it was Brendan’s turn. Iowa was announced as a 9-seed and set to face 8-seed Clemson.

Fast forward a few days later to March 19, and the Hausen family has already done damage in the NCAA Tournament.

As Brendan Hausen was in Tampa with the Hawkeyes, High Point pulled off an upset win over Wisconsin. Braden scored six points in the Panthers’ 83-82 victory. Iowa’s media availability was earlier in the afternoon, so we were unable to get his thoughts on his brother’s win. But it’s clear how meaningful their relationship is.

“He’s my best friend,” Hausen said. “He’s been there from the start. We played together in high school. Seeing him do his thing is truly special.”

As kids, they used to compete on a stage much smaller than the NCAA Tournament.

“Honestly, the mini goal in the living room,” Hausen said. “My mom just screaming at us, that we were going to break through the glass and ripping the goal down. Those were probably my favorite memories.”

Video: Brendan Hausen on making NCAA Tournament for first time

Brendan Hausen meets with media ahead of Iowa basketball’s matchup with Clemson in the NCAA Tournament.

It hasn’t been a direct path for Hausen to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his college career. He played his first two seasons at Villanova, before playing at Kansas State last season. None of those teams made the Big Dance, meaning that when he transferred to Iowa ahead of the 2025-26 season, this was his last chance to reach March Madness.

“It’s exciting,” Hausen said of finally getting the Big Dance. “I don’t take it for granted because it’s been an up-and-down four years. This being my first one is truly special. So I won’t take it for granted.”

The Hausen brothers are playing on opposite ends of the country this week. High Point’s upset over Wisconsin came in Portland in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, Hausen is about as far southeast as you can get. Iowa faces Clemson in Tampa on March 20 (5:50 p.m. CT, TNT).

The Hausen family is in Tampa, not Portland, for a couple of reasons. This is Braden’s second time in the NCAA Tournament, as opposed to Brendan’s first. Also, the weather.

“He (Braden) told them it was OK because it was my first time,” Hausen said. “He was cool with it. And obviously, the warm weather brought people. My brother was good with it, so I’m happy they’re all here.”

Hausen, a sharpshooter who arrived at Iowa having made 178 3-pointers in his college career, hasn’t been featured in as large a role as some once expected. Hausen has appeared sporadically for the Hawkeyes and is playing the fewest minutes per game since his freshman season at Villanova.

But it has now led him to the promised land of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Hausen brothers are a combined 1-0 in March Madness so far this year. That has a chance to become 2-0 when Iowa plays Clemson.

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

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