Local Election Day

Des Moines Mayoral Race

One of the most exciting races this time was the Des Moines mayor’s race. It seems to boil down to two primary candidates, Josh Mandelbaum and Connie Boesen. Both are Democrats and are currently serving on the Des Moines City Council. It was interesting to see how the candidates utilized a broad range of topics to appeal to Des Moines’ demographic.

The two main contenders, Boesen and Mandelbaum, and their campaign ads tried to court the Democratic electorate. However, let’s not overlook the percentage of the Des Moines population made up of Republicans. It could potentially be the deciding factor, even though Des Moines is a predominantly Democrat city. The influence of both sides of the political spectrum on the mayoral race is, undoubtedly, an essential factor to consider.

School Board Elections

The school board elections this year in Iowa promise to be especially contentious and engaging. Factions within the parties and several interest groups have mobilized and are participating actively in these local elections. This development leads to increased vigilance and awareness surrounding the school board races, primarily due to recent culture war issues surfacing in these elections.

For instance, the Waukee school district has seen a rise in the number of progressive candidates since the last election. In contrast, other areas, such as Johnston and Ankeny, have seen conservative candidates or pro-parent candidates gaining popularity.

Bond Issue Elections

In addition to city council elections and school board races, there are also several bond issues that citizens need to vote on. With the total proposed new bonding estimated at nearly 1.7 billion dollars, the decisions made now will significantly impact Iowa’s economic scenario for years to come.

Historically, many bonds easily passed, particularly those proposed by schools, as people have a strong connection with their local schools. Yet property taxes have become a significant concern for many Iowans, leading to increased scrutiny and debate over bond proposals.

The upcoming polling days will reveal the direction the public opinion sways and whether the bias towards supporting their local schools will overpower the prevailing concern with property taxes.

As far as the local elections go, the increase in voter turnout is an encouraging sign. This poll season promises to bring some interesting races and decisions that hold the potential to reshape the future of Iowa’s political and economic landscape. So, on Election Day, cast your vote and let your voice be heard.