Latest ITRF Poll: What Stands Out? - Iowans for Tax Relief

Iowans Care About Taxes

Iowans have made their priorities clear: they care about economic stability, controlling government spending, and common-sense tax reform. With just over a month until election day, Republicans are in a strong position, driven by voter concerns that align with their legislative agenda.

ITR Foundation’s most recent poll reveals a few key takeaways that paint a picture of Iowa’s political climate:

Trump vs. Harris:

In stark contrast to other polls, particularly the Des Moines Register poll, our poll shows Donald Trump with a seven-point lead over Kamala Harris in Iowa. While the Register showed only a four-point lead, the ITR Foundation Poll is more in line with Iowa’s political landscape.

Generic Congressional Ballot:

A question asking Iowans if they would prefer a Republican or Democrat for Congress shows a slight shift since July, with Republicans maintaining an eight-point lead, down from 10 points over the summer. This may indicate a slight tightening, but GOP support remains strong in the state.

Key Voter Issues:

The top priorities for Iowa voters remain unchanged, with inflation and the economy leading the way, followed by immigration and border security. Interestingly, while Democrats focus heavily on abortion, only 10.6% of Iowans cite it as their top issue.

Property Tax Growth Limit

Iowans are mad about property tax bills and want a solution.

The legislature needs to take action to limit local governments. A proposal to limit the amount by which local governments can increase property taxes each year to 2% garners significant support, with close to 70% of Iowans in favor.

While there will be a few different proposals, ITR’s 2% cap is going to be one of the more strongest, most significant plans, and it has the support of a wide majority of Iowa voters.

Proposed Amendments to Iowa’s Constitution

The supermajority amendment has broad backing, crossing political and ideological boundaries. A majority of both Republicans and Democrats have expressed the view that increasing taxes should be a much more difficult process. While the left often pushes back on tax cuts, this poll reveals that they are also opposed to the idea of raising taxes.

Supermajority to Raise Taxes

A whopping 69.6% of Iowans support requiring a two-thirds majority in the legislature to raise taxes. This is consistent across party lines and demonstrates strong bipartisan support for fiscal restraint.

Flat Tax

While support for a Constitutional amendment enshrining a flat tax sits at 44% in favor, a significant portion of voters remains undecided. This might be due to a lack of familiarity with the impact of the policy, as Iowa’s flat tax is still relatively new and yet to be fully implemented.

The Role of Abortion in Legislative Races

One notable observation is how central abortion has become for Democratic candidates. Ads hitting local Republicans on abortion are becoming more frequent, yet data from our poll indicates that only 10% of voters list it as a top priority.

Democrats are using abortion to mobilize their base. However, nearly 90% of voters in this survey indicated something else as their most important issue.

Legislative Races: What to Expect

Looking at the broader legislative landscape, Iowa Republicans seem poised to retain or even grow their majorities. With strong candidates, well-funded campaigns, and favorable polling, the Iowa GOP is in a solid position heading into election day.

Vice Presidential Debate Recap

Senator J.D. Vance skillfully articulated conservative values and reminded voters of the current administration’s failures, particularly on the economy and immigration.

Governor Tim Walz, while competent in his delivery, relied on well-worn Democratic talking points. The moderators seemed intent on framing questions around government solutions, which raised concerns about the increasing size and scope of federal influence in areas traditionally handled at the state level.