Author

Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl

Robin Opsahl is an Iowa Capital Dispatch reporter covering the state Legislature and politics. Robin has experience covering government, elections and more at media organizations including Roll Call, the Sacramento Bee and the Wausau Daily Herald.

Vice President Kamala Harris cites Iowa’s role in legal challenges to abortion

By: - March 16, 2023

Vice President Kamala Harris, in Des Moines on Thursday, said Iowa is “on the front lines” of the fight over abortion access. Harris joined a roundtable discussion on reproductive rights with Democratic leaders, health care providers and community advocates at Grand View University in Des Moines. It’s not just lawmakers taking action to strip Americans […]

DeSantis, in Iowa, says GOP stance in culture wars will help win elections

By: - March 11, 2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Iowa Republicans Friday that standing strong in the culture wars around issues like education, criminal justice and health care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will help their party win elections. DeSantis, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, spoke to more than 600 Iowans at the Iowa State Fairgrounds’ […]

Sen. Tim Scott mulls presidential bid while hosting Iowa events

By: - February 23, 2023

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott sidestepped questions about running for president in 2024 while kicking off a series of Iowa events Wednesday with Gov. Kim Reynolds at a Des Moines Catholic school. The South Carolina Republican is in Iowa for his “Faith in America” listening tour, with plans to speak at Drake University and headline a […]

Some Republican candidates shy from specifics of federal abortion law positions

By: - September 10, 2022

On the campaign trail, Iowa Democratic congressional candidates say their Republican opponents want to fully ban abortion in Iowa and nationwide – but many GOP candidates competing in the November election shy away from outlining specific policies. U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne’s campaign released a video advertisement of her opponent, state Sen. Zach Nunn, raising his […]

Iowa Supreme Court erases state constitutional right to abortion

By: and - June 17, 2022

The Iowa Supreme Court found there is no state constitutional right to an abortion, reversing a previous decision in a ruling Friday. The decision leaves Iowa open to an abortion ban or heightened restrictions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns federal protections in a ruling expected in the coming weeks. The new interpretation of abortion […]