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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Ep95: Online Vs Offline Democrats, 2020 Fundraising Numbers
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with State Representative Lindsay James about early fundraising numbers for the 2020 field, how “very online” Democrats differ from the rest of the party, how Democrats should handle the “socialism” label, and what’s left to watch up at the Statehouse this year.
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Ep94: Beto O’Rourke Interview & Ever-Expanding Dem Field
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard sits down with Beto O’Rourke during his recent Iowa trip to talk about his generational pitch, how he’s adjusted to the media onslaught, and what kind of “normal” he wants to bring to D.C. Plus, I talk about the ever-expanding Democratic presidential field and why everyone feels they…
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What A Jam-Packed Beto O’Rourke Campaign Day Is Like
Above photo via Joe Crimmings. Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is well-known for his energetic, non-stop campaigning style, and that was certainly on display during his ambitious Polk County schedule on Saturday. He held six house parties, spread out across the Des Moines metro, an interesting strategy that brought out more than just the usual Democratic…
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Abby Finkenauer Appointed To Key Infrastructure Subcommittee Spot
Iowa will now have a bigger say in how the nation’s infrastructure needs are addressed. Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer has been appointed to the role of Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. That subcommittee handles the planning for construction and maintenance of highways and transit facilities, as well as…
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If You Like Elizabeth Warren’s Policy Proposals, Here’s An Idea
I conducted a fun little experiment yesterday. After noticing many people expressing frustration on political Twitter that Elizabeth Warren wasn’t getting enough media coverage for her policy ideas, I wondered, are those same people sharing her policy proposals themselves? So, I searched on Twitter for “Elizabeth Warren policy” and scrolled through the results for those…
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Is Tom Steyer Reconsidering A Run?
While Tom Steyer announced back in January that he would not make a presidential run in 2020, a poll going around Iowa raises new questions on whether he might be reconsidering that option. A Starting Line reader received a polling call yesterday afternoon in which various messages on a possible Steyer candidacy were tested. Steyer…
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Ep93: How Democrats Are Talking About Rural Iowa
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by Robert Leonard of Knoxville’s KNIA Radio-AM, a frequent writer on rural issues, to recap this weekend’s Heartland Forum in Storm Lake. We discuss how Democrats have started to change how they talk about rural Iowa.
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House Democrats Hire New Director To Retake Chamber
The Iowa House Democrats have hired Emily Waggoner as their new caucus director for the 2020 campaign cycle. She’ll be tasked with running the political operation to pick up at least five House seats to retake the majority for Democrats. “We’re excited to ramp up our team to regain the majority in the Iowa House,”…
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Harris Aims To Mobilize Iowa’s Campus Activism With “Camp Kamala” Training Sessions
Senator Kamala Harris is making sure they get a jump start on organizing Iowa’s college students before they head off campus after spring semester ends. Her Iowa campaign is announcing today five “Camp Kamala” youth organizing training sessions, where students will learn about how to organize their communities, how the Iowa Caucus works, and what…
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Who Can Win Back Iowa’s Blue-Collar Counties?
Back during Elaine Baxter’s childhood, party loyalty was a simple matter. “When I was growing up, it would be unthinkable if you worked in a factory and were a Republican,” Baxter explained to Starting Line last week. “The two didn’t go together.” Now 86, Baxter, who served as Iowa’s Secretary of State from 1987 to…
