A new Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation (ITRF) poll of likely general election voters in Iowa reveals consistent support for fending off tax hikes, and a political environment that is pointing toward close races up and down the ballot. The survey, conducted from June 16-19, 2026 , found that support for an amendment to Iowa’s constitution requiring a two-thirds supermajority of the state legislatur...
Iowa voters approved 22 of 26 public measures on September 8, including 14 of 18 Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) questions, all four school Revenue Purpose Statements (RPS), and all three city and county tax measures. The results included several notable decisions. Dubuque voters approved doubling the district’s PPEL after rejecting a $70 million bond last year. Clarinda voters rejected a...
New Jersey's voter registration error shows that election integrity depends on accurate systems, not just good intentions. A software glitch registered thousands of self-identified noncitizens, demonstrating how administrative failures can undermine public confidence. Iowa has strengthened safeguards, but recent audits show continued vigilance is necessary. Constitutional protections, citizenship ...
The episode opens with a reflection on America's 250th birthday. Chris wanted more. The fireworks, the parades, the national moment — it didn't feel commensurate with what 250 years of the greatest experiment in self-government deserves. John connects the muted celebration to decades of failure to teach American history, and the two discuss why the left's framework for America — defined by grievan...
Nearly three-quarters of Iowa voters (73.8%) support an amendment to Iowa’s constitution requiring a supermajority vote to raise taxes. Seventy-one percent of voters support this constitutional safeguard, with only 12% opposed. Support is strong across party lines, including 75% of Independents. The amendment will be on the ballot this fall. In the governor's race, State Auditor Rob Sand leads Zac...
Turnout in the March special election remained extremely low across the participating districts. Across the 12 contests, just 6,336 votes were cast out of 136,901 registered voters — a turnout of only 4.6 percent. Individual district turnout varied significantly. The highest turnout occurred in Sibley-Ocheyedan CSD, where 34.8 percent of registered voters participated in the PPEL renewal election....
"Property taxes are an issue. And I think voters are being more picky," said Sarah Curry with Iowans for Tax Relief, a group that advocates for lower taxes. Curry says that while some metro voters were willing to accept higher taxes to fund new schools, many Iowans elsewhere were not. "When we look statewide, there were actually 25 bonds that passed and 33 failed. Knoxville, Panorama, I-35 — all...
Iowa voters considered 58 bond proposals totaling more than $1.7 billion in potential new borrowing. A majority (57%) of those proposals failed, with only 25 proposals (43%) gaining approval. Many repeat proposals were rejected again, showing continued taxpayer concern about property taxes and government spending. Just over $1 billion in new debt was approved, with nearly $700 million denied.
It's important for voters to consider the ask, says ITR President Chris Hagenow. "It's separating the wants versus the needs. If something needs to happen, then voters should be aware of that, and that, that obviously, may qualify for voting for a bond," Hagenow says. "These bond decisions are in large part driving the increase year over year in property tax burden. And we think that many times, ...