Latest news with #IowaCaucuses
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa Republican Brenna Bird teases bid for governor, promises 'an exciting 2026'
Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird teased a run for governor, posting a video to social media mashing together clips of President Donald Trump praising her and telling an Iowa crowd that "she's going to be your governor someday, I predict." Bird posted the video with just the word "someday" along with the "eyes" emoji. The video, posted Friday, May 16, includes multiple clips of Trump thanking Bird before being an early supporter. He describes her as somebody who "supported me before people wanted to support me" and as "somebody who was with us early on and she's really become a big star and very popular." Bird, who is in her first term after defeating longtime Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller in 2022, was the highest-profile elected official to endorse Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. And she has been a vocal supporter of him and his agenda while in office. 'Over the last several weeks, Bob and I have received encouragement from Iowans across the state and we're so grateful for their support," Bird said in a statement provided exclusively to the Des Moines Register. "Running for governor isn't a decision to be made lightly. We look forward to sharing our plans soon for an exciting 2026.' The social media video suggests Bird would play up her connection to Trump in a potential campaign. She has long been thought to be among the first in line to receive a potential endorsement if the president did decide to wade into the race. A Trump endorsement might not clear the Republican primary field of other serious contenders, but it could carry substantial weight in a state where Trump remains exceedingly popular among Republicans. 'Washington, D.C., RINOs didn't pick President Trump to win the presidency, and they aren't picking the next gubernatorial nominee," a senior adviser to Bird said in a statement. "When the attorney general is ready to announce her decision, she will. If Brenna Bird runs for governor of Iowa, there should be no doubt that she will be the Republican nominee.' Bird previously served as the county attorney for Fremont and Guthrie counties and as counsel to former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. She was chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Steve King. The teaser video comes the same week Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra launched an exploratory committee for governor and a statewide advertising presence. It made him the first person to launch TV ads in the race as he seeks to establish himself among a possibly growing primary field. Former Republican state Rep. Brad Sherman previously announced that he would run for governor. And multiple other Republicans have signaled their interest in the race, including state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, state Sen. Mike Bousselot, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann and House Speaker Pat Grassley. Grassley said on a May 16 episode of Iowa Press that he is still considering a run and is weighing factors like the impact to his family and his farm. "I'm just gonna take some time now that session has wrapped up, as I've been saying, wanted to get through session, and then take the next couple weeks to kind of make a decision on what that would be," he said. On the Democratic side, state Auditor Rob Sand also recently entered the race, making his launch official May 12. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Republican Brenna Bird teases gubernatorial bid with Trump video
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rachel Stassen-Berger is returning to the Des Moines Register as new executive editor
A familiar face is returning to the Des Moines Register to lead its newsroom. Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, who served in senior editing roles at the Register from 2018 to 2022, will become its executive editor June 2, Gannett Co., the Register's owner, announced May 6. 'Our job is not just to report on the community, but to reflect and engage them,' Stassen-Berger told staffers after being introduced to applause. Gannett news executives Michael Anastasi and Ray Rivera announced the hiring to staff at a meeting at the Register's downtown office. Stassen-Berger shared outlines of some of her priorities as editor, including building a culture of innovation in storytelling and community connections. 'Every day you have to challenge yourself to do something better, to do something different,' she said. Her new role comes after she served as executive editor of the Omaha World-Herald. Des Moines' position opened in January when Carol Hunter retired after 20 years with the Register, the final eight as executive editor. Stassen-Berger was the Register's political editor and then news director during her earlier stint, a period that was packed with news beginning on her very first day: While colleagues brought Stassen-Berger up to speed on publishing software, a top state legislative leader was resigning hours after a scandal emerged. Stassen-Berger led coverage of the 2020 Iowa Caucuses for both major parties and the year-plus campaign leading up to them, pivoting weeks later to guide the newsroom's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel Stassen-Berger, then the Register's politics editor, introduces a speaker at the newspaper's Iowa State Fair Political Soapbox in 2019. Stassen-Berger was named executive editor of the Register on May 6, 2025. Among the notable journalism she edited: Before Des Moines, Stassen-Berger had been Capitol bureau chief, reporter and columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota and a political reporter for the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. She has also been a reporter in Minneapolis, Eastern Europe, the suburbs of Philadelphia and New York. The Register has long been Iowa's largest news-gathering organization. 'Every editor knows that they are a caretaker of the institution. The institution is what matters and what matters to this community," said Anastasi, Gannett's vice president for local news. "We are so confident that Rachel is the right leader for the next era to lead this great institution and to stand on the shoulders. As we all do, of all of those who came before. So I'm really looking forward to the journalism and the difference making that's going to happen at the Des Moines Register in the years to come.' Des Moines Register editors Since 1902, there have been 12 editors of the Des Moines Register and Tribune. Carol Hunter: 2016-2024 Amalie Nash: 2014-2016 Rick Green: 2011-2013 Carolyn Washburn: 2005-2011 Paul Anger: 2002-2005 Dennis Ryerson: 1995-2001 Geneva Overholser: 1988-1995 James Gannon: 1982-1988 Michael Gartner: 1976-1982 Kenneth MacDonald: 1953-1976 William Wesley Waymack: 1943-1953 Harvey Ingham: 1902-1943 This story was updated to add information. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rachel Stassen-Berger will be Des Moines Register executive editor
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who is Cory Booker? Senator visited Rock Island in 2019 as part of presidential campaign
Who is Cory Booker? Well, the new Senate speech record-holder ran for president not so long ago and stopped by our studio in Rock Island to speak on 4 The Record. Here's what he had to say then compared to what he said on the Senate floor over 25 hours. Our Quad Cities News anchor and 4 The Record moderator Jim Niedelman interviewed most of the presidential candidates before the 2020 Iowa Caucuses. Booker was one of them. Watch his interview segments below and for everyone else from that election Quad Cities News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. It's a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on what's happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Pete Buttigieg says he won't run for Senate, leaving door open for possible White House bid
Washington — Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Thursday he won't seek an open Senate seat in Michigan next year, keeping the door open for a possible White House bid in 2028. "I care deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but I have decided against competing in either race," Buttigieg said in a post on X Thursday. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who served as transportation secretary under the Biden administration and recently moved to Michigan, said earlier this month that he was considering entering the race for the open seat. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters said in January that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026. Peters' surprise announcement opened up a key seat in the battleground state. Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin won her Senate seat in November in another open race, but Michiganders also elected President Trump. And the race is expected to be among a handful that will determine control of the Senate after the GOP secured a trifecta in the 2024 elections. Buttigieg, 43, sought the Democratic nomination for president in the 2020 election, facing off against a wide field of Democrats. Buttigieg saw an early boost when he came out on top in the Iowa Caucuses, but he bowed out of the race as the party coalesced around former President Joe Biden. Buttigieg said earlier this month on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" when asked about the possible run for the Michigan Senate seat that he was "looking at it." The former transportation secretary said at the time that he plans to "continue to work on the things that I care about," adding that he had "not decided what that means professionally" or "whether that means running for office soon or not."
Fox News
02-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Extra: Our Unedited Conversation With Vivek Ramaswamy
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy first entered the political arena when he launched his 2024 Presidential campaign just over two years ago. He eventually withdrew from the race after the Iowa Caucuses and endorsed Donald Trump. Ramaswamy later briefly co-led Trump's Department of Government Efficiency initiative alongside billionaire Elon Musk. He has now announced his candidacy for governor of Ohio. This week, FOX News Rundown host Dave Anthony spoke with Vivek Ramaswamy about his reasons for wanting to lead the Buckeye State, the rumors surrounding his departure from DOGE shortly after Trump took office, and his plans to enhance the efficiency of Ohio's government. The 39-year-old Cincinnati native also discussed some of his policies, including tax cuts, reforming Ohio's education system, and instituting a merit-based system for teachers. We often must cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full interview. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire, unedited interview with Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. This will allow you to hear even more of his take on politics and how he believes he can improve government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
