Congress

Iowa looks competitive, according to new Dem poll

Published

3 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Iowa looks to be seriously in play for Democrats in November up and down the ballot, according to a new survey from a Democratic group that backs moderate candidates.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand holds an eight-point lead in the governor’s race, and Republicans hold slim leads in both the Senate race and the generic statewide ballot for Congress, according to the survey conducted by Democratic pollster GBAO for the center-left ModSquad, a group led by Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who endorsed Turek.

The poll found President Donald Trump is underwater in the red state, with 50 percent unfavorable and 45 percent favorable ratings. Sand led GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra by 50 percent to 42 percent, while Democrats trailed in the generic ballot by 46 percent to 44 percent.

In the Senate race, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson leads state Sen. Zach Wahls by 47 percent to 44 percent and state Rep. Josh Turek by 47 percent to 43 percent. The poll surveyed 1,200 likely voters from March 10-16 with a 2.8 percent margin of error.

Democrats have been regularly let down in recent years by other polls showing them in a stronger position than the reality in Iowa, and partisan polls should always be taken with a grain of salt. And so far, there has been scant independent public polling of these contests. But Republicans have indicated that they see a potentially competitive race shaping up in Iowa this time around: The Senate Leadership Fund, Senate Republicans’ main super PAC, already reserved $29 million in ad spending there in the fall, making it one of five GOP-held states where they’ve made a major investment as they fight to keep the majority.

The memo’s aim is to show that their preferred candidate, Turek, would be the stronger general election candidate. After sharing favorable and critical messages on the three candidates, the poll finds that Hinson maintains her lead on Wahls, while Turek pulls ahead of Hinson.

“In this environment, Democratic candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls both begin within striking distance of Republican Ashley Hinson,” the polling memo notes. “But Turek emerges as the stronger general election candidate: after balanced messaging, he moves ahead of Hinson, while Wahls continues to trail.”

Hinson begins the race underwater, with a 23 percent favorable to 31 percent unfavorable rating. Turek and Wahls are less well-known, with 34 percent and 49 percent name recognition.

After voters hear positive messages and attacks on each candidate, Turek moves ahead while Wahls still falls short. “Notably, Turek makes substantial gains among independents over the course of the survey, shifting the net vote margin 7 points in his favor and opening up a 17-point lead with them,” according to the polling memo.

The memo says Turek, a basketball Paralympian, has more room to grow after voters hear his profile: 62 percent say Turek’s profile is a convincing reason to vote for him compared with 51 percent for Wahls and 48 percent for Hinson.

But the memo didn’t share the messages the poll tested, making it impossible to discern if that message test is a fair or accurate test of how the general election might play out.

Congress

Fuller’s swearing-in

Published

59 minutes ago

April 13, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Clay Fuller, the Georgia Republican elected to succeed former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, will be sworn in as a member of the House Tuesday, said two people granted anonymity discuss the plan.

Congress

House Dems plan for Thursday Iran vote

Published

2 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

House Democrats are on track to force a new Iran war powers vote Thursday, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss internal planning. The Iran vote will be the first on the House floor since March 5, just a week after President Donald Trump launched strikes.

That timing could change, the people warned, depending on how attempts to expel Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) over sexual misconduct allegations play out this week.

Congress

Capitol agenda: Scandals and Iran overshadow GOP tax pitch

Published

4 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Congress is back and Republicans just want to talk up the pocketbook benefits of last year’s “big, beautiful bill” ahead of Tax Day this week.

But complicating that election-year message are a host of pressing scandals, the threat of further oil price spikes from the Iran war, the record-setting DHS shutdown and other GOP policy squabbles.

Here’s what to watch as Congress returns:

— TAX TALK: House Republicans are planning a Wednesday all-member news conference to promote tax cuts from last year’s megabill. President Donald Trump is set to take the message to Nevada and Arizona this week.

— EXPULSION FEVER: House leaders are facing a bipartisan outcry to expel members accused of personal misconduct.

The group includes Rep. Eric Swalwell, who abandoned his California gubernatorial run Sunday night and is under pressure to resign from office after sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Members are also targeting Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for alleged campaign finance violations and Cory Mills for a range of allegations.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna told us Sunday she wants to pair up a resolution to expel Swalwell and Gonzales. But one of the reasons GOP leaders have been hesitant to push Gonzales to resign is his seat is more competitive now.

— IRAN WAR: Republicans are increasingly worried about explaining away rising gas prices and spiking inflation. There’s little hope global energy flows will return to normal soon as Trump plans a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Both chambers this week will likely debate and vote on Democratic-led war powers resolutions. The White House is taking steps to ensure GOP loyalty, as some Republicans who’ve been supportive of the war begin to raise doubts.

— POLICY BATTLES: The Senate is set to restart debate on the SAVE America Act, the sweeping elections bill most Republican members don’t think can pass. And the party still faces an internal fight over how to end the DHS shutdown that’s entering its third month.

The House GOP doesn’t intend to move forward on the Senate-approved DHS funding bill this week and will instead wait until the Senate makes progress on its budget reconciliation bill, according to four people granted anonymity to describe private plans. But making progress on that reconciliation bill is rife with its own complications.

Speaker Mike Johnson also needs to find a way to renew the Section 702 spy powers law before it expires April 20. He’s planning to put a straight extension on the floor this week, but has yet to secure hard-liners who want to vote on amendments aimed at establishing protections from government surveillance.

What else we’re watching:

—Jacobs wants leadership post: Rep. Sara Jacobs plans to run for vice chair of the Democratic caucus next term, a source granted anonymity to discuss her thinking tells Riley Rogerson. Jacobs, 37, has already talked with most House Democrats about her plan.

—A big week of approps hearings: Trump administration officials are set to face questions about the Iran war and the DHS shutdown at a series of House Appropriations subcommittee hearings this week. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is likely to be pressed Wednesday by members of the Interior-Environment panel about the Strait of Hormuz and energy costs. The Homeland Security subcommittee hears Thursday morning from Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons and Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow.

Meredith Lee Hill and Riley Rogerson contributed to this report.