Latest news with #IowaHouse
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
State Rep. Eddie Andrews announces run for Iowa Governor
DES MOINES, Iowa — On late Wednesday morning on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol building, another Iowa Republican threw his hat in to the ring to seek the state's highest office. State Representative Eddie Andrews (R) from District 43 had a crowd of supporters there for his announcement. Rep. Andrews said in his speech that he is focused on expanding accessible mental health care and youth transition programs. He also said that he wants to bring the state back to the top in education, referencing private, public, charter and home schools. He commented on the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines, stating that he sides with the landowner, as he has voted on in the Iowa House. He used issues to discuss money involved in state politics and how he wants to get rid of the dollar influence when running for office. In a statement he said: 'Iowa deserves a Governor who listens and delivers. My experience as a tech entrepreneur, minister, and legislator prepares me to serve you. I invite you to join my fight to build an Iowa that works for all.' To learn more about Rep. Andrews, his campaign website is live and linked here. Iowa News:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Rep. Eddie Andrews announces run for Iowa Governor
DES MOINES, Iowa — On late Wednesday morning on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol building, another Iowa Republican threw his hat in to the ring to seek the state's highest office. State Representative Eddie Andrews (R) from District 43 had a crowd of supporters there for his announcement. Rep. Andrews said in his speech that he is focused on expanding accessible mental health care and youth transition programs. Iowa DNR looking for volunteers for second year of Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas He also said that he wants to bring the state back to the top in education, referencing private, public, charter and home schools. He commented on the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines, stating that he sides with the landowner, as he has voted on in the Iowa House. He used issues to discuss money involved in state politics and how he wants to get rid of the dollar influence when running for office. In a statement he said: 'Iowa deserves a Governor who listens and delivers. My experience as a tech entrepreneur, minister, and legislator prepares me to serve you. I invite you to join my fight to build an Iowa that works for all.' State Rep. Eddie Andrews, (R) District 43, candidate for Iowa Governor To learn more about Rep. Andrews, his campaign website is live and linked here. Iowa News: WHO 13 Farm Report: Wednesday, June 4 State Rep. Eddie Andrews announces run for Iowa Governor Motorcyclist killed in crash with semi on Floyd County highway Iowa DNR looking for volunteers for second year of Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas Contractor tried to resell stolen medical equipment worth $60k from new UI hospital online, police say Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP state Rep. Eddie Andrews launches 'ground up' campaign for Iowa governor in 2026
State Rep. Eddie Andrews has formally launched a campaign for governor, saying he hopes to build a "people-first," "ground-up" movement to create a new way forward for Iowa. At a rally in front of the Iowa Capitol on Wednesday, June 4, Andrews, a Republican, said he doesn't expect to be the best-funded candidate in the race. And he alluded to the more than $8 million Democratic candidate and State Auditor Rob Sand has already raised for his gubernatorial bid. But Andrews said he's been outspent in his previous races and still managed to win. "You're effectively looking at a race with unlimited resources," he said. "… I've learned the hard way that you still run if you feel led to do that and let the chips fall where they may." Still, he said, his campaign will be able to raise some money and has a seven-figure financial commitment he will roll out in the coming days. Andrews represents Iowa House District 43 and was reelected to a third term in 2024. His district includes Johnston, as well as parts of Urbandale and Saylorville. He is married to Betty Andrews, the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP president. He said, like many Iowans, he and his spouse have different political beliefs. 'I think a lot of people look to us as an example of how love can conquer differences sometimes," he said. In his pursuit of the governor's office, Andrews said he'll run a campaign focused on improving Iowa's education system, combating human trafficking, eliminating property taxes and fighting against the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. "People in rural Iowa are fighting for their lives not to be bullied by people with money," he said. "And I am on the landowner's side. I have chosen a side. It's the Constitution and landowner rights." Andrews' announcement comes after incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April she would forego reelection in 2026, opening the Republican primary field and shifting the state's political landscape. Andrews said he began praying about whether to enter the race before Reynolds said she would not seek another term. "As people of faith, we can't always explain why we have an urge to pray about something," he said. "But we had an urge, and we were talking right there in the rotunda, and we just started to just start praying right then about whether Eddie Andrews should be putting his hat in the race for the governor." Andrews said he doesn't plan to campaign against the other Republicans competing in the primary, but he will put forward his vision for the state. "I'm all about helping people. Full stop," he told reporters. "Protecting the Constitution, defending your rights, being creative. … Let's be creative in our solutions. Let's be creative in things that we provide to Iowans. We don't have to do things the same old, same old way." Former state Rep. Brad Sherman, a Williamsburg pastor and a Republican, launched his campaign for governor before Reynolds' announcement. And other Republicans have begun making moves toward formal campaigns. Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra has formed a gubernatorial exploratory committee, and he has aggressively made moves toward a formal campaign. State Sen. Michael Bousselot also has formed an exploratory committee. And Attorney General Brenna Bird has hinted at a run, 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." On the Democratic side, state Auditor Rob Sand and political consultant Julie Stauch have formed campaigns. 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 governor election: Republican Eddie Andrews launches campaign
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
What's next for the Iowan who shouted 'people will die' at Joni Ernst over Medicaid cuts
Hear this story India May, a 33-year-old Democrat from Charles City, is running for the Iowa House after sparking a viral moment at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's town hall. May interrupted Ernst's answer on Medicaid cuts to shout, "people will die!" Ernst responded by saying, "people are not — well, we all are going to die." The Iowan who became part of a viral moment by recently shouting at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst that "people will die" because of proposed Medicaid cuts is a Democrat who is using the moment to launch a campaign for the Iowa House. India May, a 33-year-old from Charles City, drove to Parkersburg on May 30 to attend Ernst's town hall. As Ernst was answering a question about Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's tax cut bill, May said she "got a little worked up." She shouted at Ernst, "People will die!" Ernst's response was, "People will not — well, we all are going to die. For heaven's sakes, folks." It was a moment that generated national attention and criticism for Ernst, a second-term Republican who is up for reelection in 2026. "It wasn't the only egregious thing that she said during her town hall," May told the Register, "so I wasn't really shocked, but I was sort of disappointed." Who is India May? In the wake of the town hall, May capitalized on the resulting attention by launching her campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives in 2026. May is the director of the Ionia Public Library and is a registered nurse and a death investigator for Chickasaw County. She first moved to northeast Iowa four years ago from Kansas. She is running for Iowa House District 58, which includes Chickasaw County and parts of Floyd and Bremer counties. The district is represented by Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, who was first elected in 2022 and is serving his second term. What does India May want to accomplish in the Iowa House? May said she first got involved in Iowa politics earlier this year when she attended a town hall held by the state legislators in her area, including Thomson. In part, May said she went to oppose a bill that would deny state funding to libraries that are members of the American Library Association and Iowa Library Association, and another that would remove an exemption in Iowa's obscenity law that shields libraries and educational institutions. Neither bill ultimately passed. "I'm a nurse and a librarian, and I went to my first town hall this year to advocate for libraries and realized that there were a lot more pieces of legislation that were harmful on the Iowa level that I didn't even hear about until it was too late," she said. As a nurse, May said she has firsthand experience with some of the states' health care problems. "We have struggles with mental health care," she said. "We are the worst in the United States for mental health care. Only one-third of our counties in Iowa have access to a labor and delivery unit for mothers and babies, and these should be seen as crises." She said she wants to stand up for "these programs that are just being gutted that we really need to protect." "That's my goal is to protect Medicaid, Medicare, the VA is a huge one, plus SNAP benefits for all of the people who need a safety net and a leg up," she said. Will India May keep attending Iowa town halls? Aside from Ernst's town hall this year, May has also attended a town hall for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, which she livestreamed, and she tried to attend an event held by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, but wasn't able to get in because the venue was full. She says she plans to keep showing up. "Absolutely," she said. "I'm not afraid. I'm not shy. It's OK, if you want to hurt my feelings I'll stand right back and show up. We need to be heard." What does Sen. Joni Ernst say about Medicaid cuts? At the Parkersburg town hall, Ernst followed up her comments by saying said the goal of the tax cut bill is to make sure that people who are not eligible for Medicaid benefits don't receive them. "What you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable," Ernst said. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them. Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you don't want to listen, that's fine." Later that day she blamed "hysteria that's out there coming from the left" for the response to her initial comments. The next day, Ernst posted a sarcastic apology video on her Instagram story. "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she posted. "So, I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. "But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ." Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republican State Rep. Eddie Andrews files paperwork to run for Iowa governor in 2026
Iowa state Rep. Eddie Andrews, a Republican, has filed paperwork to run for governor, and he has teased a "major announcement" from the Iowa Capitol on June 4. "Serving as your State Representative for District 43 has been an honor," Andrews wrote in an email promoting the event. "Together, we've made meaningful progress — advancing mental health care, strengthening education, and championing family-first policies that make Iowa stronger. But I believe Iowa deserves even more." Iowa should work to enact property tax changes, "continue to defend and constitutionally protect landowners' rights" and guarantee mental health care, he wrote in the email. "I'm ready to take our shared vision further — and I can't do it without you," he said. Andrews represents Iowa House District 43, and he was reelected to a third term in 2024. His district includes Johnston, as well as parts of Urbandale and Saylorville. His announcement comes after incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April she would forego reelection in 2026, opening the Republican primary field and shifting the state's political landscape. After that announcement, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra announced he formed an exploratory committee, and he has aggressively made moves toward a formal campaign. State Sen. Michael Bousselot has also formed an exploratory committee. And Attorney General Brenna Bird has hinted at a run, 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." Former state Rep. Brad Sherman, a Williamsburg pastor and a Republican, launched his campaign for governor before Reynolds' announcement. 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: GOP State Rep. Eddie Andrews files paperwork to run for Iowa governor
