With Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket, Iowa Democrats are feeling more optimistic about their party’s chances. That’s according to this week’s Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll. 85% of Iowa Democrats say they feel optimistic about this November’s election. That’s up from 45% in June with President Joe Biden was running for reelection. That compares to 63% of Republicans who say they are optimistic, up from 62% in June.

On this episode of Iowa Down Ballot, moderator Ed Tibbetts talks with a panel of Iowa political journalists and analysts about whether this optimism for the top will translate into better outcomes for competitive contests elsewhere. Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces a serious rematch from Democrat Christina Bohannan for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat. And Incumbent Republican Zach Nunn faces a challenge from newcomer Democrat Lanon Baccam for Iowa’s 3rd.

They also get into State Auditor Rob Sand’s recent report on nursing home inspections falling short and a new challenge to the Iowa Utilities Commission’s June decision to approve Summit Carbon Solution’s $8 billion carbon capture pipeline.

Follow these panelists for ongoing, independent analysis:

Ed Tibbetts

Laura Belin

Dennis Goldford

Bob Leonard

Kathie Obradovich

Barry Piatt

Ty Rushing

Iowa Down Ballot is a production of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. It is produced by Zachary Oren Smith with music from Dartanyan L. Brown.

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