Pat Rynard founded Iowa Starting Line in 2015. He still keeps a close eye on Iowa politics, his dog’s name is Frank, and football season is his favorite time of year.
Pat Rynard
Latest from Pat Rynard
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The Peculiar, Surprisingly Effective Campaign Of Joe Sestak
Retired admiral Joe Sestak’s presidential campaign announcement was noticed almost by accident. Explaining his entrance into the crowded field in a June 23 video on a campaign website few knew existed, word of the then-24th Democratic candidate slowly spread through political journalist Twitter. No major profile pieces, media roll-outs or cable news tours accompanied it.…
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Cedar Rapids’ Political Clout On The Rise
Two weekends ago, Cedar Rapids held its second major multi-presidential candidate in as many months. The national press swarmed the streets of Iowa’s second-largest city, over a thousand Democratic caucus-goers braved the overwhelming heat and candidates themselves tried out the vibrant NewBo culinary scene. That day, 11 candidates seeking the White House attended. A month…
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Trump-Loving Nordic Neo-Nazi From Iowa Arrested After Threats, Hate Speech
A Cedar Rapids man has been arrested after he allegedly made threats over the phone and in emails to a Jewish organization in New York City. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the matter. Garrett Kelsey, who referred to himself as “Garrett Odinschild,” called the organization, which was not named in the criminal complaint,…
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County GOP Party In Iowa Calls Dem Congresswomen “Terrorists”
The Washington County Republican Party in Iowa took the lead of President Donald Trump’s racist smears on four Democratic congresswomen and ran with it last week, going a little further than their party leader. A Starting Line reader directed our attention to the post made on July 15. “It certainly is time somebody called out…
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Inside The New Effort To Flip The Iowa House
While the non-stop parade of presidential candidates through Iowa dominates state and national news, a group of prominent Iowa Democrats have launched a PAC to refocus attention on a more local matter: retaking the Iowa House. The Better Democracy PAC, formed by Fred and Charlotte Hubbell in mid-May, aims to give Democrats a major financial…
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Amy Klobuchar Rolls Out New Endorsements Ahead Of 10th Iowa Trip
Senator Amy Klobuchar has a new collection of endorsements from the kind of Iowa Caucus activists that get things done. They come ahead of her weekend visit to the state, her tenth since announcing her campaign. The Klobuchar campaign announced six new notable Iowans backing the senator: Shirley McAdon, an Adel City Council member. Bill…
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Marianne Williamson Iowa State Director Switches To John Delaney
Marianne Williamson’s loss is John Delaney’s gain. Brent Roske, who was Williamson’s state director until the beginning of last week, has joined Delaney’s campaign as their new deputy Iowa state director, Delaney’s campaign tells Starting Line. “I enjoyed my time with the Williamson campaign, but I’m excited to join the Delaney team as I believe…
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What Didn’t Work: Eric Swalwell Exits 2020 Primary
Eric Swalwell couldn’t quite wrestle that torch away from Joe Biden, or from any of the other Democratic contenders, for that matter. The California congressman became the first invested presidential candidate to drop out of the primary today. Swalwell made the announcement this afternoon in his home district, deciding instead to run for reelection there.…
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Joe Biden Interview: “Talk About The Future” In Dem Primary
Former Vice President Joe Biden closed out his busy 4th of July day in Iowa with a trip to a baseball stadium, greeting newly-naturalized U.S. citizens and taking in the I-Cubs game with Iowa activists. During the seventh inning, he sat down with Starting Line for an interview. While Biden and seven other candidates shook…
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Pete Buttigieg Shuts Down Racist Man At Carroll Stop
Things got off to a rocky start at the Carroll County Democrats picnic when a man from Omaha, Nebraska told Pete Buttigieg he had a solution for dealing with the current racial tensions in South Bend, Indiana. “Just tell the black people of South Bend to stop committing crimes and doing drugs,” he said. The…
